Tennis

Wimbledon 2023 is set to witness the return of two tennis legends, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, who have both recently undergone surgeries. Djokovic, aiming for a record-equaling eighth Wimbledon title, will face Czech qualifier Vit Kopriva in his opening match. Murray, a two-time champion, will take on another Czech, Tomas Machac, in what could be his farewell appearance at the tournament.Djokovic, who underwent knee surgery after withdrawing from the French Open, has declared himself "pain-free" and eager to compete. The Serbian is determined to match Roger Federer's Wimbledon record and become the first player to win 25 Grand Slam singles titles. Despite not winning a title this season, Djokovic remains a formidable opponent, having reached the past five Wimbledon finals.Murray, on the other hand, has been battling injuries and underwent surgery to remove a cyst from his spine just over a week before the tournament. The 37-year-old is hoping to make a final appearance at Wimbledon before retiring. He will face Machac, who leads 2-0 in their head-to-head encounters.Also in action on Tuesday is world number one Iga Swiatek, who is seeking to progress beyond the quarter-finals at Wimbledon for the first time. The Polish star has won five trophies this year but has not played a warm-up tournament on grass. She will face Sofia Kenin, whom she defeated in the first round of the Australian Open earlier this year.

Two-time Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka has withdrawn from Wimbledon 2023 due to an ongoing injury. The Belarusian star had been struggling with a teres major muscle issue, which affects her ability to serve.Sabalenka first experienced discomfort during the Berlin grass-court tune-up, where she retired from her match against Anna Kalinskaya. She had previously won her opening match against Daria Kasatkina.Despite her best efforts to recover, Sabalenka's injury persisted. On Monday, she cut a practice session short and was seen shaking her head and saying "no" to her coach. It became clear that she would not be able to compete at Wimbledon.Sabalenka's withdrawal is a significant blow to the tournament. She was seeded No. 3 and was considered a contender for the title. Her absence opens up the draw, particularly in the top half where she was placed in Coco Gauff's section.The 26-year-old expressed disappointment at having to pull out of Wimbledon. She has only played the tournament twice since 2019, but has reached the semifinals both times."I'm not 100% ready," Sabalenka said on media day. "We're doing everything we can with my team to make sure I'll be able to play my first match here."Sabalenka's injury is a rare one in tennis. She described it as "really specific" and said she was only the second or third player to suffer from it."The most annoying thing is that I can do anything," Sabalenka said. "I can practice, I can hit my groundstrokes. I'm struggling with serving. That's really annoying. You don't feel like you're injured. If you give me some weights, I'm going to go lift some weights. But if you tell me to serve, I'm going to go through pain."Sabalenka said she still had hopes of playing at Wimbledon, but it was clear after Monday's truncated hitting session that her 2023 campaign would not get off the ground.

Wimbledon 2023: Sonay Kartal Poised to Upset Sorana Cirstea in First RoundAs the curtains rise on Wimbledon 2023, world No. 31 Sorana Cirstea faces an intriguing challenge against qualifier Sonay Kartal in the first round. While Cirstea holds the seeding advantage, her recent form casts doubt on her status as the favorite.Cirstea has endured a dismal run of five consecutive losses, including two straight-set defeats on grass at Birmingham and Eastbourne. Her struggles on the surface are evident in her career record of 29-36 on grass. Moreover, her overall form this season has been underwhelming, with a win-loss record of 12-15.In contrast, Kartal has emerged as a potential giant-killer. The 22-year-old Londoner earned her main draw berth through qualifying, showcasing her resilience and determination. Her impressive run included a convincing 6-3, 6-1 victory over Top 100 player Erika Andreeva.Kartal's aggressive style of play, particularly her heavy forehand, could prove to be a formidable weapon against Cirstea. The Brit's confidence is soaring after her qualifying success, and she will be eager to make a statement on the grandest stage of tennis.Cirstea's reliance on spin may not be the ideal strategy on grass, where low-bouncing slices are more effective. Kartal's ability to match Cirstea's aggression and exploit her weaknesses makes her a genuine threat.Given Cirstea's poor form and Kartal's impressive momentum, the odds favor an upset. Sonay Kartal (+100) represents a compelling value bet to emerge victorious in this first-round encounter.

Andy Roddick and Jon Wertheim have released their predictions for Wimbledon 2023 following the draw ceremony.Women's Draw:Roddick expressed concern for Iga Swiatek's quarter, which includes defending champion Marketa Vondrousova. He believes Swiatek's movement and ball flight may need adjustments on grass, making her more vulnerable. However, he still predicts Swiatek to reach the semifinals, facing Vondrousova.In the next quarter, Roddick predicts Elena Rybakina and Jessica Pegula to advance, with an honorable mention to Katie Boulter.Emma Raducanu is seen as a potential spoiler in the bottom half, despite a tough first-round draw against Ekaterina Alexandrova. Roddick believes Raducanu's recent grass-court form could carry her through.Roddick and Wertheim differ significantly in their predictions for the women's final. Roddick has Jessica Pegula reaching her first Grand Slam final, losing to Aryna Sabalenka. Wertheim, on the other hand, predicts a Swiatek-Gauff final.Men's Draw:Roddick and Wertheim largely agree on the men's outcomes. Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini are seen as potential second-round opponents. Sinner is predicted to reach the quarterfinals, facing Grigor Dimitrov.Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz is the clear favorite in his quarter, with Tommy Paul named as his quarterfinal opponent.Andrey Rublev's section features Lorenzo Musetti, who Roddick believes could be a threat on grass. However, Roddick predicts Sebastian Korda to overtake Musetti for a spot in the quarterfinals.In the bottom section, Novak Djokovic is the favorite to reach the semifinals, where he would face Taylor Fritz. Sinner is predicted to face Alcaraz in the other semifinal, with the Italian emerging victorious.In the predicted Italy-Serbia match for the title, Roddick has Sinner winning his first Wimbledon title and second slam.

Wimbledon 2023: Expert Predictions and Potential SurprisesWith the Wimbledon draws complete, experts weigh in on the potential champions and biggest surprises in both the men's and women's tournaments.Women's Champion Predictions:* Iga Swiatek: Despite facing Grand Slam champions, Swiatek's dominance on clay suggests she could complete a Channel Slam.* Aryna Sabalenka: Despite a drop in ranking, Sabalenka's powerful game and first-strike mentality make her a strong favorite.* Ons Jabeur: After reaching the Wimbledon final last year, Jabeur aims to break through for her first Grand Slam title.* Elena Rybakina: The reigning Wimbledon champion has had a strong season and is a contender to retain her title.Men's Champion Predictions:* Carlos Alcaraz: The Roland Garros champion is a threat on grass with his X-factor on big points.* Jannik Sinner: The world No. 1 has won his first grass-court title and is a strong contender.* Hubert Hurkacz: With a big serve and determination, Hurkacz could ride his momentum to his first major title.* Alexander Zverev: Zverev's favorable draw and grass-court prowess make him a potential champion.Potential Surprises in the Women's Draw:* Dayana Yastremska: The rising star has established herself in the Top 30 and could upset higher-seeded players.* Daria Kasatkina: Her experience and playing style give her a chance to reach the Wimbledon semis for the first time.* Donna Vekic: The unseeded floater has the potential to break open the draw.* Emma Raducanu: The wildcard entrant could reach the quarterfinals, as she did in 2021.Potential Surprises in the Men's Draw:* Jack Draper: The British wildcard has shown impressive form and could be a surprise title contender.* Sebastian Korda: With a favorable draw and strong grass-court game, Korda could make a deep run.* Marcos Giron: The American has produced notable grass-court wins this month and could challenge top players.* Taylor Fritz: Fritz's grass-court prowess and favorable draw make him a potential semifinalist.