World No 1 is working on serve to give her edge on grass as she bids to become the seventh successive first-time winner
In the past seven years, the women’s title at Wimbledon has been won by six first-time champions, the post-Serena Williams era offering opportunities for many to shine. While this year’s event includes three former champions, last year’s winner, Marketa Vondrousova, the 2022 champion, Elena Rybakina and 2018 champion Angelique Kerber, the overriding sense is that a seventh could be on the cards. Just who that will be is a trickier question than it might seem, with doubts surrounding the chances of many of the leading contenders.
That list is topped, however, by Iga Swiatek, the 23-year-old Pole who has taken control of the women’s Tour since the shock retirement of Ash Barty in early 2022. Swiatek won her fourth Roland Garros title last month – her fifth Grand Slam title – but her best effort in four previous visits to Wimbledon was reaching the quarter-finals last year.