2024 Wimbledon Women's Tournament Preview: Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka lead line-up for third Grand Slam

Sunday, 30 June 2024 at 08:21

The latest edition of the Wimbledon Championships heads to SW19 between July 1-14, 2024 with the women's draw now complete and our preview looks ahead to the main protagonists with Marketa Vondrousova as the defending champion.

Vondrousova handed Ons Jabeur back to back final defeats with the Tunisian not succeeding in her bid not only to win the title but also to quit tennis to start a family as a result. She will hope to finally claim it and make it third times a charm.

Swiatek, Rybakina, Sabalenka and Gauff lead line-up

Iga Swiatek will lead the line-up for this year's tournament albeit she has yet to get past the Quarter-Finals at the major despite being a junior champion previously at Wimbledon. She has yet to crack grass and will hope that this is her year.

But truth betold, there is no evidence either way on whether she has made those adjustments. She decided not to play at the Berlin Ladies Open which was a key warm-up for her ahead of Wimbledon after claiming yet another Roland Garros title. She also has a tough draw compared to a lot of her rivals. Sofia Kenin will start who dumped out Coco Gauff twelve months ago, while Yulia Putintseva then will likely await or Petra Martic. Katerina Siniakova then followed by Jelena Ostapenko who she has a horrific record against. She is the one player who can really tackle the weapons that Swiatek has and really rush her work with her big hitting.

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If she can manage to finally tackle that conundrum, it could gleam the title so in reality the fourth round could be pivotal. Many believe that Swiatek will crack it one day at SW19, but whether that is this year remains to be seen.

Others who will lead the draw include Coco Gauff who for once won't have to meet Iga Swiatek until at least the final. She is second seed for the first time after usurping Aryna Sabalenka to become World No.2 for the first time. So as a result, it will be Elena Rybakina as the World No.4 who will likely face Jessica Pegula in the Quarter-Finals and then Swiatek in the semi-finals.

Instead for Gauff, she will likely encounter Aryna Sabalenka who she beat in the US Open final. But the American has not really hit top form at Wimbledon since being a teenage debutant who had the tennis world at her feet. But like Sabalenka who has yet to achieve her Wimbledon potential, the game is certainly there to be a success on grass.

Iga Swiatek often flatlines when going from Roland Garros to Wimbledon and has never had huge success at the tournament.

Sabalenka had a shoulder injury at Berlin, but like others who have withdrawn during that tournament it seems to be merely precaution. She has reached the semi-finals twice at Wimbledon including last year when it looked very much likely that she would be favourite for the title alongside Jabeur only for Vondrousova to go and upset the apple cart. With a game that suits grass, she will look to claim her first Grand Slam outside Australia.

Elena Rybakina is perhaps the favourite for the title based on winning the title before and her sheer prowess on the surface. She won the title two years ago and was only derailed last year due to a bout of COVID knocking her for six until the US hard court swing after Roland Garros.

She was unable to walk properly at times during her Wimbledon run last year and looked a shadow of herself. But this year, the doubts do persist but she has the game when she is not unwell unlike last year where she was very much an unknown.

Elena Rybakina won the title in 2022, but suffered with COVID last year. Favourite this time?

She has continued the habit of withdrawing from tournaments with illness. But Eastbourne this week was initially seemingly that way but was a withdrawal based off change of schedule according to a statement released when she withdrew. Breaking the heart of Ons Jabeur two years ago, it was a bit of a bizarre win for Rybakina. The Kazakh being Russian born in a year when Russian players were banned didn't give her the credence that she perhaps deserved. Ranking points were also dropped meaning that she didn't benefit at all from the title. It took over a year from that point for her to emerge inside the higher echelons of the game in terms of rankings.

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But now part of the so-called Big Three with Swiatek and Sabalenka, they will be the favourites for the title over the next two weeks. Sabalenka and Rybakina perhaps more than most and given that they will likely meet in the final if they get through their Quarters, it is perhaps a sure fire bet.

Who are other protagonists to watch?

Other players who will headline the draw include the aforementioned defending champion Marketa Vondrousova and two-time finalist Ons Jabeur. Albeit both have question marks.

Vondrousova has not backed it up since Wimbledon last year with injury like her compatriot Karolina Muchova who also had success last year affecting her progress. She also slipped during her recent week at the Berlin Ladies Open in a pretty horrific fall in the latest slice of luck that has gone against her when it comes to her post Wimbledon run.

Saying that, she reached the Quarter-Finals of Roland Garros this year while not being fancied to do so. Vondrousova like in her run last year won't be a fancied player, but often is the cork in the bottle and comes from nowhere to cause chaos. Jabeur could do so this year too. Given it is the first year where she won't actually be a favourite for the title.

Marketa Vondrousova has not succeeded since winning the title last year with a lot of form woes and injuries.

She has battled knee injury which has continued and has been in and out of form since her exploits at Wimbledon last year. But she is usually there or thereabouts at SW19. Others include Emma Raducanu who will make her return in a Centre Court slot on Monday and also Katie Boulter when it comes to home hopes.

Raducanu will face Sloane Stephens in the opening round after two solid weeks in Nottingham and Eastbourne reaching the semi-finals and Quarter-Finals. Perhaps without the huge weight of expectation she can flourish. Elina Svitolina and Mirra Andreeva always standout at grass court majors with the latter in particular playing superbly on grass losing only to Madison Keys after a capitulation last year. There are the usual players such as Jessica Pegula who won Berlin recently as well as Maria Sakkari albeit the latter is suspect in Grand Slams.

Naomi Osaka, Caroline Wozniacki and former champion Angelique Kerber will make their return to the tournament after receiving wildcards and will be leading attractions at SW19. As will Bianca Andreescu who impressed at Roland Garros. Leylah Fernandez and Daria Kasatkina are also in the Eastbourne International final as of time of writing so both will likely also figure unless they suffer some kind of Eastbourne curse in reaching the final and then losing early.

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The WTA though is often unpredictable and throws up some interesting shocks and results. None of the big names will realistically be safe and that really adds to the tournament this year. It is fairly wide open with no big name standing out and those who usually get picked not being in form to be picked again. So for those picking their predictions, good luck.

Previous Winners - Wimbledon

Open Era (1968 - Present)

2023: Markéta Vondroušová (CZE) defeated Ons Jabeur (TUN) 6-4, 6-4
2022: Elena Rybakina (KAZ) defeated Ons Jabeur (TUN) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
2021: Ashleigh Barty (AUS) defeated Karolína Plíšková (CZE) 6-3, 6-7(4-7), 6-3
2020: No competition (COVID-19 pandemic)
2019: Simona Halep (ROU) defeated Serena Williams (USA) 6-2, 6-2
2018: Angelique Kerber (GER) defeated Serena Williams (USA) 6-3, 6-3
2017: Garbiñe Muguruza (ESP) defeated Venus Williams (USA) 7-5, 6-0
2016: Serena Williams (USA) defeated Angelique Kerber (GER) 7-5, 6-3
2015: Serena Williams (USA) defeated Garbiñe Muguruza (ESP) 6-4, 6-4
2014: Petra Kvitová (CZE) defeated Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) 6-3, 6-0
2013: Marion Bartoli (FRA) defeated Sabine Lisicki (GER) 6-1, 6-4
2012: Serena Williams (USA) defeated Agnieszka Radwańska (POL) 6-1, 5-7, 6-2
2011: Petra Kvitová (CZE) defeated Maria Sharapova (RUS) 6-3, 6-4
2010: Serena Williams (USA) defeated Vera Zvonareva (RUS) 6-3, 6-2
2009: Serena Williams (USA) defeated Venus Williams (USA) 7-6(3), 6-2
2008: Venus Williams (USA) defeated Serena Williams (USA) 7-5, 6-4
2007: Venus Williams (USA) defeated Marion Bartoli (FRA) 6-4, 6-1
2006: Amélie Mauresmo (FRA) defeated Justine Henin (BEL) 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
2005: Venus Williams (USA) defeated Lindsay Davenport (USA) 4-6, 7-6(4), 9-7
2004: Maria Sharapova (RUS) defeated Serena Williams (USA) 6-1, 6-4
2003: Serena Williams (USA) defeated Venus Williams (USA) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
2002: Serena Williams (USA) defeated Venus Williams (USA) 7-6(4), 6-3
2001: Venus Williams (USA) defeated Justine Henin (BEL) 6-1, 3-6, 6-0
2000: Venus Williams (USA) defeated Lindsay Davenport (USA) 6-3, 7-6(3)

All Wimbledon finals' results since 1968.

Pre-Open Era (1884 - 1967)

1967: Billie Jean King (USA) defeated Ann Haydon Jones (GBR) 6-3, 6-4
1966: Billie Jean King (USA) defeated Maria Bueno (BRA) 6-3, 3-6, 6-1
1965: Margaret Smith Court (AUS) defeated Maria Bueno (BRA) 6-4, 7-5
1964: Maria Bueno (BRA) defeated Margaret Smith Court (AUS) 6-4, 7-9, 6-3
1963: Margaret Smith Court (AUS) defeated Billie Jean King (USA) 6-3, 6-4
1962: Karen Hantze Susman (USA) defeated Vera Puzejova Sukova (CZE) 6-4, 6-4
1961: Angela Mortimer (GBR) defeated Christine Truman Janes (GBR) 4-6, 6-4, 7-5
1960: Maria Bueno (BRA) defeated Sandra Reynolds Price (RSA) 8-6, 6-0
1959: Maria Bueno (BRA) defeated Darlene Hard (USA) 6-4, 6-3
1958: Althea Gibson (USA) defeated Angela Mortimer (GBR) 8-6, 6-2
1957: Althea Gibson (USA) defeated Darlene Hard (USA) 6-3, 6-2
1956: Shirley Fry Irvin (USA) defeated Angela Buxton (GBR) 6-3, 6-1
1955: Louise Brough (USA) defeated Beverly Fleitz (USA) 7-5, 8-6
1954: Maureen Connolly (USA) defeated Louise Brough (USA) 6-2, 7-5
1953: Maureen Connolly (USA) defeated Doris Hart (USA) 8-6, 7-5
1952: Maureen Connolly (USA) defeated Louise Brough (USA) 6-4, 6-3
1951: Doris Hart (USA) defeated Shirley Fry Irvin (USA) 6-1, 6-0
1950: Louise Brough (USA) defeated Margaret Osborne duPont (USA) 6-1, 3-6, 6-1

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Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.

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