Wimbledon 2017 Preview: Murray the man to beat as the women’s game remains wide open

Summary: Andy Murray will hope to retain his title, while the absence of Serena Williams opens a window of opportunity in the women’s game.

World-class tennis will return to England on July 3rd as the biggest names in men's and women's tennis compete to be crowned Wimbledon Champion.

Current holder of the men’s title Andy Murray will be hoping to defend his crown and pick up an historic third championship on Centre Court. Competition will be tough, with Novak Djokovic, recent French Open winner Rafael Nadal and Stan Wawrinka all expected to enjoy strong tournaments.

Betting against seven-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer is not wise either. The Swiss maestro plays some of his best tennis at the All-England Club and made the semi -finals last year despite questions about his form.

The women’s tournament is expected to be equally competitive. With current holder Sserena Williams taking a break from the game as she awaits the birth of her first child, Angelique Kerber and Simona Halep sit atop of a list of impressive players looking to make a name for themselves.

However, Halep was surprisingly beaten in the French Open final by Jelena Ostapenko, who moved up 35 spots in the world rankings after her shock victory. Could we be in for another unexpected champion at Wimbledon now Serena is not around?

What can we expect in the men’s game?

After years of battles with Djokovic, Nadal and Federer, Andy Murray is now the man to beat in world tennis.

The Scot made history with his first Wimbledon win in 2013 and now has three Grand Slam wins to his name, though some could argue he should have won more after reaching 11 finals.

Rafael Nadal is entering the tournament in great form after a triumphant French Open win, though lingering injury worries have damaged his form at the All-England Club in recent years. When fully healthy, the Spaniard can beat anyone, but knee issues have continued to plague his career and will dictate his chances.

Novak Djokovic could be Murray’s toughest obstacle at this year’s Wimbledon. With 12 major titles, the Serbian has already consolidated himself as one of the greatest players ever, but injuries and a dip in form in the last 18 months have affected his results.

Despite not winning a Grand Slam since 2012, Roger Federer cannot be disregarded. A 17th place finish at the Australian Open and withdrawal from the French Open will damage his chances, though the crowd will be on his side and a final Grand Slam is not out of the question.

Stan Wawrinka, Milos Raonic and Marin Cilic will also be hoping for a big win and, you never know, we could have a surprise. Remember Goran Ivanisevic?

Is it time for someone to take Serena’s throne?

Serena Williams’ break from tennis has created a window of opportunity in the women’s game, but has anyone seized their chance?

Simona Halep and Angelique Kerber were tipped by many to take over from Williams, but Halep’s surprise loss in the French Open has blown open the competition.

Kerber currently stands as world number one and picked up Australian Open and US Open titles last year. Her triumphant win against Williams in Australia was a huge milestone for the German, but a first round knockout in this year’s French Open has raised questions about her form.

At world number three, Karolina Pliskova is another contender for the Wimbledon championship. Though she only has one Grand Slam final to her name, it may soon be time for the 25-year-old to take a step up and become a key player in the game.

We can’t rule out young Ostapenko either, who will be full of confidence after her shock French Open win.

Will Kerber or Halep consolidate themselves as the woman to beat, or could we be in for another surprise?