ANGELIQUE KERBER (GER)
Age: 29
Ranking: 1
Plays: left-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US20,034,057 ($A26.47 million)
Career titles: 10
Grand slam titles: 2 (Australian Open 2016; US Open 2016)
Wimbledon win-loss record: 20-9
Best Wimbledon result: finalist 2016
Hasn’t had the best season by any stretch but a return to the grass, where her left-handed serve can be lethal, and no Serena Williams greatly improves the German’s chances of going one step further than last year.
SIMONA HALEP (ROM)
Age: 25
Ranking: 2
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US18,381,910 ($A24.29 million)
Career titles: 15
Grand slam titles: 0
Wimbledon win-loss record: 11-6
Best Wimbledon result: semi-finalist 2014
The Romanian confirmed her status as the game’s best player without a grand slam title after a second run to the final in Paris and is seeded ideally to advance as far on London’s lawns.
KAROLINA PLISKOVA (CZE)
Age: 25
Ranking: 3
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US8,865,637 ($A11.71 million)
Career titles: 8
Grand slam titles: 0
Wimbledon win-loss record: 4-5
Best Wimbledon results: second round 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Owner of the deadliest serve in women’s tennis, back the ace machine and 2016 US Open runner-up to go deep in the absence of Williams and Maria Sharapova.
JOHANNA KONTA (ENG)
Age: 26
Ranking: 7
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US5,051,235 ($A 6.6 million)
Career titles: 3
Grand slam titles: 0
Wimbledon win-loss record: 1-5
Best Wimbledon result: second round 2016
Has yet to perform on the grass but don’t write off the Sydney-born star’s chances of becoming Britian’s first female Wimbledon winner since Virginia Wade in 1977 as she enjoys a career-best seeding and huge home support.
VENUS WILLIAMS (USA)
Age: 37
Ranking: 11
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US36,520,636 ($A48.25 million)
Career titles: 49
Grand slam titles: 7 (Wimbledon 2000-01, 2005, 2007-08; 2014; US Open 2000-01)
Wimbledon win-loss record: 81-14
Best Wimbledon results: champion 2000, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008
Carrying family hopes in the absence of her pregnant defending champion sister Serena and bidding to become the oldest champion of the professional era. A serious contender as the most accomplished player in the draw.
PETRA KVITOVA (CZE)
Age: 27
Ranking: 12
Plays: left-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US23,121,987 ($A30 million)
Career titles: 20
Grand slam titles: 2 (Wimbledon 2011, 2014)
Wimbledon win-loss record: 26-13
Best Wimbledon results: champion 2011, 2014
The two-time champion is the title favourite with many British bookies in what would rank as one of the most emotional triumphs in history after she was stabbed in a home burglary attack last December.
BEST OUTSIDER
JELENA OSTAPENKO (LAT)
Age: 20
Ranking: 13
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US3,599,766 ($A4.76 million)
Career titles: 1
Grand slam titles: 0
Wimbledon win-loss record: 1-2
Best Wimbledon result: second round 2015
The fearless youngster emerged as a grand slam force with a stunning run to the title in Roland Garros but her grasscourt credentials were already there for all to see – the Latvian won junior Wimbledon in 2014.
BEST AUSTRALIAN HOPES
DARIA GAVRILOVA
Age: 22
Ranking: 21
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US2,171,167 ($A2.8 million)
Career titles: 0
Grand slam titles: 0
Wimbledon win-loss record: 1-2
Best Wimbledon result: second round 2016
Seeded for the first time at SW19 and also Australia’s top women’s hope for the first time after dethroning Samantha Stosur this month. Already enjoying her time on England’s grass courts.
ASHLEIGH BARTY
Age: 21
Ranking: 54
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US1,511,201 ($A2 million)
Career titles: 1
Grand slam titles: 0
Wimbledon win-loss record: 0-1
Best Wimbledon result: first round 2012
A junior champion at the All England Club as a 15-year-old, the former teenage prodigy looms as a title dark horse after a dramatic rankings rise and charge to the final in Birmingham.
