In some ways, predicting a winner of the mens singles at Wimbledon has been a rather easy task over the past 15 years.
Since 2002, only four men have got their hands on the famous trophy.
Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal have both picked up two titles apiece, while Novak Djokovic has emerged victorious on three occasions, but Roger Federer sits head and shoulders above the rest with eight wins.
The 36-year-old Swiss is chasing a historic ninth title to draw him level with Martina Navratilova as the most successful singles champion at the All England Club.
Wimbledon men's champions since 2003
2003: Federer
2004: Federer
2005: Federer
2006: Federer
2007: Federer
2008: Nadal
2009: Federer
2010: Nadal
2011: Djokovic
2012: Federer
2013: Murray
2014: Djokovic
2015: Djokovic
2016: Murray
2017: Federer
Few would be surprised to see him do exactly that, but its not a given by any stretch of the imagination.
Here we take a look at the tournament and predict a winner.
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What happened last year?
Federer became the outright most successful man in SW19 and didnt drop a set en route to his second Grand Slam title of 2017.
He defeated Marin Cilic in the final, with the Croat struggling with blisters in an anti-climactic finish.
The tournament proved to be the end of the year for three of the games most successful active players.
Djokovic was forced to retire from his quarter-final clash with Tomas Berdych due to an elbow problem, Murray hobbled out against Sam Querrey at the same stage with a hip issue, while a knee injury hampered Stan Wawrinka in a first-round exit to Daniil Medvedev – all three didnt play again in 2017.
Nadal was stunned in the fourth round by grass-court specialist Gilles Muller 15-13 in the decider, as his wait for a return to the last-eight for the first time since 2011 went on.
Whats happened in the grass-court season?
The build-up to Wimbledon has been fascinating in its own right.
Federer made the perfect start after a near three-month absence from the ATP Tour as he picked up the title in Stuttgart, but he looked far from his best in Halle just a week later.
Chasing his 10th title at the Gerry Weber Open, he was stunned by Borna Coric – who had never lifted a trophy on this surface before.
Grass court champions 2018
Stuttgart: Federer
Rosmalen: Gasquet
Halle: Coric
Queens: Cilic
Eastbourne: M. Zverev
Antalya: Dzumhur
On the same day, Cilic defeated Djokovic at Queens to confirm his status as one of the most feared player in the draw at the All England Club.
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Richard Gasquet and Damir Dzumhur were among the other players to triumph, with Mischa Zverev winning his first ATP Tour title in Eastbourne.
How did the draw pan out?
Last years finalists Federer and Cilic sit in the top half of the draw, with Djokovic, Nadal, Murray and Juan Martin del Potro sat in a loaded bottom section.
Defending champion Federer will kick off the action on Centre Court on Monday against Dusan Lajovic, while he is set for a rematch of the Halle final with Coric in round four.
Dark horse Nick Kyrgios is on course to meet fellow young gun Alexander Zverev in round four, with the winner potentially meeting Djokovic in the quarter-finals.
There are some cracking first-round ties, too. Wawrinka will take on Grigor Dimitrov, Gael Monfils meets Rosmalen champion and fellow Frenchman Gasquet, while exciting Canadian Denis Shapovalov takes on one of the most impressive players in the build-up to this event: Jeremy Chardy.
What about the Brits?
There are five British men in the main draw, although all face a challenge to get beyond the third round.
Murray – making his first appearance at a Slam since this event in 2017 – has only played three matches prior to the tournament and faces two tricky opening rounds against Benoit Paire and Shapovalov or Chardy before a potential third-round encounter with Del Potro.
Kyle Edmund, who enters Wimbledon as British No. 1 for the first time in his career, has enjoyed an excellent year and reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open. However, he is due to face Djokovic in the round of 32.
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Liam Broady has been handed a tricky tie with 2016 runner-up Milos Raonic, although question marks over the Canadians fitness will provide some hope, while Jay Clarke faces unpredictable former top-10 player Ernests Gulbis.
Cam Norrie will fancy his chances of winning a couple of matches, but John Isner is a potential third round opponent.
Who is the favourite?
Unsurprisingly, Federer is viewed as the man to beat on his favoured surface, with Queens finalists Djokovic and Cilic the next most-fancied.
Nadal is a tempting price considering his relatively kind draw – although he hasnt been beyond the last-16 in seven years.
Del Potro, Zverev and Kyrgios are viewed as the main challengers to upsetting the status quo, while Murray is out at 25/1 with Raonic.
Latest Wimbledon odds (Betfair)
7/4 – Federer
11/2 – Djokovic
7/1 – Cilic
8/1 – Nadal
12/1 – Kyrgios
16/1 – Zverev
18/1 – Del Potro
25/1 – Murray
25/1 – Raonic
Prediction?
There were signs that Federer was feeling the heat in Halle, but he can still be expected to claim the title.
Hes avoided the worst sections of the draw – although he should be pushed far harder than last years stroll in the park.
Cilic has a real opportunity of exacting revenge on the Swiss in the semi-finals, while Djokovic has shown enough form to be a strong contender to reach the final.
If Kyrgios is mentally focused, he could easily win the tournament, however, there has been little evidence in the past to suggest that will be the case.
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It wouldnt be a major surprise if Federer wasnt to win, but he remains the stand out, albeit rather predictable, choice.
Prediction: Federer to claim ninth Wimbledon title
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In some ways, predicting a winner of the mens singles at Wimbledon has been a rather easy task over the past 15 years.
Since 2002, only four men have got their hands on the famous trophy.
Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal have both picked up two titles apiece, while Novak Djokovic has emerged victorious on three occasions, but Roger Federer sits head and shoulders above the rest with eight wins.
The 36-year-old Swiss is chasing a historic ninth title to draw him level with Martina Navratilova as the most successful singles champion at the All England Club.
Wimbledon men's champions since 2003
2003: Federer
2004: Federer
2005: Federer
2006: Federer
2007: Federer
2008: Nadal
2009: Federer
2010: Nadal
2011: Djokovic
2012: Federer
2013: Murray
2014: Djokovic
2015: Djokovic
2016: Murray
2017: Federer
Few would be surprised to see him do exactly that, but its not a given by any stretch of the imagination.
Here we take a look at the tournament and predict a winner.
Advertisement Advertisement
What happened last year?
Federer became the outright most successful man in SW19 and didnt drop a set en route to his second Grand Slam title of 2017.
He defeated Marin Cilic in the final, with the Croat struggling with blisters in an anti-climactic finish.
The tournament proved to be the end of the year for three of the games most successful active players.
Djokovic was forced to retire from his quarter-final clash with Tomas Berdych due to an elbow problem, Murray hobbled out against Sam Querrey at the same stage with a hip issue, while a knee injury hampered Stan Wawrinka in a first-round exit to Daniil Medvedev – all three didnt play again in 2017.
Nadal was stunned in the fourth round by grass-court specialist Gilles Muller 15-13 in the decider, as his wait for a return to the last-eight for the first time since 2011 went on.
Whats happened in the grass-court season?
The build-up to Wimbledon has been fascinating in its own right.
Federer made the perfect start after a near three-month absence from the ATP Tour as he picked up the title in Stuttgart, but he looked far from his best in Halle just a week later.
Chasing his 10th title at the Gerry Weber Open, he was stunned by Borna Coric – who had never lifted a trophy on this surface before.
Grass court champions 2018
Stuttgart: Federer
Rosmalen: Gasquet
Halle: Coric
Queens: Cilic
Eastbourne: M. Zverev
Antalya: Dzumhur
On the same day, Cilic defeated Djokovic at Queens to confirm his status as one of the most feared player in the draw at the All England Club.
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Richard Gasquet and Damir Dzumhur were among the other players to triumph, with Mischa Zverev winning his first ATP Tour title in Eastbourne.
How did the draw pan out?
Last years finalists Federer and Cilic sit in the top half of the draw, with Djokovic, Nadal, Murray and Juan Martin del Potro sat in a loaded bottom section.
Defending champion Federer will kick off the action on Centre Court on Monday against Dusan Lajovic, while he is set for a rematch of the Halle final with Coric in round four.
Dark horse Nick Kyrgios is on course to meet fellow young gun Alexander Zverev in round four, with the winner potentially meeting Djokovic in the quarter-finals.
There are some cracking first-round ties, too. Wawrinka will take on Grigor Dimitrov, Gael Monfils meets Rosmalen champion and fellow Frenchman Gasquet, while exciting Canadian Denis Shapovalov takes on one of the most impressive players in the build-up to this event: Jeremy Chardy.
What about the Brits?
There are five British men in the main draw, although all face a challenge to get beyond the third round.
Murray – making his first appearance at a Slam since this event in 2017 – has only played three matches prior to the tournament and faces two tricky opening rounds against Benoit Paire and Shapovalov or Chardy before a potential third-round encounter with Del Potro.
Kyle Edmund, who enters Wimbledon as British No. 1 for the first time in his career, has enjoyed an excellent year and reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open. However, he is due to face Djokovic in the round of 32.
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Liam Broady has been handed a tricky tie with 2016 runner-up Milos Raonic, although question marks over the Canadians fitness will provide some hope, while Jay Clarke faces unpredictable former top-10 player Ernests Gulbis.
Cam Norrie will fancy his chances of winning a couple of matches, but John Isner is a potential third round opponent.
Who is the favourite?
Unsurprisingly, Federer is viewed as the man to beat on his favoured surface, with Queens finalists Djokovic and Cilic the next most-fancied.
Nadal is a tempting price considering his relatively kind draw – although he hasnt been beyond the last-16 in seven years.
Del Potro, Zverev and Kyrgios are viewed as the main challengers to upsetting the status quo, while Murray is out at 25/1 with Raonic.
Latest Wimbledon odds (Betfair)
7/4 – Federer
11/2 – Djokovic
7/1 – Cilic
8/1 – Nadal
12/1 – Kyrgios
16/1 – Zverev
18/1 – Del Potro
25/1 – Murray
25/1 – Raonic
Prediction?
There were signs that Federer was feeling the heat in Halle, but he can still be expected to claim the title.
Hes avoided the worst sections of the draw – although he should be pushed far harder than last years stroll in the park.
Cilic has a real opportunity of exacting revenge on the Swiss in the semi-finals, while Djokovic has shown enough form to be a strong contender to reach the final.
If Kyrgios is mentally focused, he could easily win the tournament, however, there has been little evidence in the past to suggest that will be the case.
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It wouldnt be a major surprise if Federer wasnt to win, but he remains the stand out, albeit rather predictable, choice.
Prediction: Federer to claim ninth Wimbledon title
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