Dark Horses for Wimbledon 2021

[Krish872007]

My current list. To be clear my list of "favourites" for the title is limited pretty much to Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev. Zverev being a very, very distant second. Medvedev and Tsitsipas are bookies' 2nd and 3rd favourites right now - but it's all very much up in the air

Matteo Berrettini - yeah go on, laugh away. But he's come on very well since 2019. Coming in off the back of a strong clay season and has the weapons to make a serious impact on grass.
Roger Federer - never write this guy off. It looks to be all over; but then again, it's always darkest before the dawn.
Andrey Rublev - could take some names.
Felix Auger-Aliassime - has looked impressive in the tune-ups until now. I don't see him as a winner given the dreadful Finals record but he could take advantage of a draw opening up.
John Isner - for obvious reasons. And he's no stranger to the later rounds at Wimbledon.
Seb Korda - promising up-and-comer, good technique, well positioned on the surface.
Marin Cilic - after a pretty disastrous year, played a decent-ish match against RF at RG and seems to have suddenly re-discovered good form on grass.

Would not surprise me if at least 2 of the Semi-Finalists came from the above list.

 

[Arvind Sridhar]

I understand Djokovic being a clear favourite above everyone else…but how’s Sascha Zverev #2. The guy just got bumped out of Halle by Umbert…granted Umbert is a grass specialist…but still…in my opinion it’s toss up of as to who’s going to be the second finalist if Djokovic makes it there…probably the most unpredictable Wimbledon in a long time…

 

[initialize]

Karatsev is an obvious one

 

[40-15 still haunts me]

Zverev LOL

 

[Nole_The_Champion]

#2 favourite is a mystery at this point.

 

[Krish872007]

I understand Djokovic being a clear favourite above everyone else…but how’s Sascha Zverev #2. The guy just got bumped out of Halle by Umbert…granted Umbert is a grass specialist…but still…in my opinion it’s toss up of as to who’s going to be the second finalist if Djokovic makes it there…probably the most unpredictable Wimbledon in a long time…

Yes not the best of losses today but I think Zverev might be a little better suited to the slightly slower conditions at Wimbledon. Bit more time to wind up his groundstrokes as opposed to the lightning quick Halle
He's only "my" 2nd favourite because he can be very dangerous when he's playing top level tennis. Medvedev and Tsitsipas are bookies' 2nd and 3rd favourites respectively but I'm less convinced on them - either way this tournament is wide open and should be an exciting 2 weeks ahead

 

[Jonesy]

There are 3 guys missing on your list: Roberto, Bautista and Agut.

 

[Tennis_Freak99]

Medvedev too

 

[Third Serve]

Pretty much everyone but Djokovic could be called a dark horse lol

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

If Djokovic loses we will get a WTA 2021 FO style tournament

 

[Deleted member 771911]

FAA, Korda, Opelka.

 

[Mediterranean Might]

Matteo is the definition of dark horse here. I think he has a solid chance at the semis this year. He just looks more comfortable on grass than the other next gens

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Barry Cowan.

 

[Krish872007]

If Djokovic loses we will get a WTA 2021 FO style tournament

No more HipRotation or Checkmate to guide us on proceedings

 

[helterskelter]

Add me to the list of those not sure why Zverev is a contender but Medvedev is not.

 

[daggerman]

I'm not sure why Berrettini isn't being taken more seriously. Yes, he played an embarrassingly poor match against Roger at 2019 Wimbledon. But it was one match (against the best ever, no less). Players improve, and he certainly has in the last year or so.

I admit this is a bit of a hot take, but I think he's the 2nd-favorite at Wimbledon this year.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Katy Perry.

 

[BGod]

Marin Cilic by a country mile. Clean sheet in Stuttgart, looked good so far at Queens. Will depend on draw of course but he'd be my longshot pick easily.

If he ends up facing Novak though it's a riot, someone would have to deal with the Joker first or injury.

 

[Purestriker]

My current list. To be clear my list of "favourites" for the title is limited pretty much to Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev. Zverev being a very, very distant second. Medvedev and Tsitsipas are bookies' 2nd and 3rd favourites right now - but it's all very much up in the air

Matteo Berrettini - yeah go on, laugh away. But he's come on very well since 2019. Coming in off the back of a strong clay season and has the weapons to make a serious impact on grass.
Roger Federer - never write this guy off. It looks to be all over; but then again, it's always darkest before the dawn.
Andrey Rublev - could take some names.
Felix Auger-Aliassime - has looked impressive in the tune-ups until now. I don't see him as a winner given the dreadful Finals record but he could take advantage of a draw opening up.
John Isner - for obvious reasons. And he's no stranger to the later rounds at Wimbledon.
Seb Korda - promising up-and-comer, good technique, well positioned on the surface.
Marin Cilic - after a pretty disastrous year, played a decent-ish match against RF at RG and seems to have suddenly re-discovered good form on grass.

Would not surprise me if at least 2 of the Semi-Finalists came from the above list.

Korda and Kyrios. But Novak seems like a lock.

 

[The Guru]

Lol Wimbledon this year is such a **** show. I don’t wanna jinx it but man does Djokovic seem like a lock. Vegas has him at like 50/50 and that seems way too low honestly.

 

[Kralingen]

Not even joking, a healthy Milos Raonic would be my 2nd favorite.

He looks like he will either not play or be hopelessly unfit though. But these are trying times.

 

[Arvind Sridhar]

Yes not the best of losses today but I think Zverev might be a little better suited to the slightly slower conditions at Wimbledon. Bit more time to wind up his groundstrokes as opposed to the lightning quick Halle
He's only "my" 2nd favourite because he can be very dangerous when he's playing top level tennis. Medvedev and Tsitsipas are bookies' 2nd and 3rd favourites respectively but I'm less convinced on them - either way this tournament is wide open and should be an exciting 2 weeks ahead

Haha...If one were to apply that for Zverev might as well do it for Federer too....I am not counting the old man out yet...Might be a stretch calling him 2nd favorite but if he is not on Noval's half there is a chance that he might go deep...But honestly, anyone of the contenders can be essentially ruled out if they get drafted to Novak's half....Interesting times....

 

[SonnyT]

My only dark horse is FAA. He just beat Federer convincingly at Halle. Right now oddsmakers give Federer 1/10, and FAA 1/100.

If Becker18 was possible, maybe FAA20 is also!

 

[albatros_forehand]

Karatsev is an obvious one

LOL

 

[Swingmaster]

Is Kevin Anderson playing?

 

[El_Yotamo]

I would laugh and be pleasantly surprised if Alcaraz made a 4R+ run
I think with the field this year we might as well call Feli Lopez and Jack Draper dark horses

 

[TimHenmanATG]

I know he may not exactly be a "dark horse", but I can see Berrettini going far, maybe even reaching the final.

In the women's tournament, I think that Paula Badosa has a great game for grass, and could potentially go far this summer.

 

[Technology Ruined Tennis]

The covid era ends with a reverse Goran.

Nicky gets a WC and wins the whole thing, flipping the bird after every win. (takes out Joker in the QF)

 

[duaneeo]

1. Djokovic
2. Federer
3. Cilic

 

[Hamnavoe]

I'll nominate Taylor Fritz.

 

[initialize]

LOL

???

 

[NedStark]

Not even joking, a healthy Milos Raonic would be my 2nd favorite.

He looks like he will either not play or be hopelessly unfit though. But these are trying times.

You are not alone.

 

[Terenigma]

I truthfully have no idea who to expect outside of Djokovic. I don't think Federer is going far this year despite his desire but even so, it's really difficult to pick from the rest of the pack. Especially because most of the current top 10 have been such utter garbage on grass and former finalists just seem out of form or injured. Players like Raonic/Anderson/Cilic i just don't feel like they have it in them this year even tho at their best, all 3 could go deep. Berrettini does seem like the best "dark horse" pick right now but outside of him, i just can't see anyone but Djokovic winning it.

 

[PilotPete]

What about Tsits? He now knows that in best of 5, you must win 3 sets to win the match.

 

[T007]

My current list. To be clear my list of "favourites" for the title is limited pretty much to Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev. Zverev being a very, very distant second. Medvedev and Tsitsipas are bookies' 2nd and 3rd favourites right now - but it's all very much up in the air

Matteo Berrettini - yeah go on, laugh away. But he's come on very well since 2019. Coming in off the back of a strong clay season and has the weapons to make a serious impact on grass.
Roger Federer - never write this guy off. It looks to be all over; but then again, it's always darkest before the dawn.
Andrey Rublev - could take some names.
Felix Auger-Aliassime - has looked impressive in the tune-ups until now. I don't see him as a winner given the dreadful Finals record but he could take advantage of a draw opening up.
John Isner - for obvious reasons. And he's no stranger to the later rounds at Wimbledon.
Seb Korda - promising up-and-comer, good technique, well positioned on the surface.
Marin Cilic - after a pretty disastrous year, played a decent-ish match against RF at RG and seems to have suddenly re-discovered good form on grass.

Would not surprise me if at least 2 of the Semi-Finalists came from the above list.

How everyone forgot cillic...he won stuttgart and going still strong in Queens. He is one of the dark horses in Wimbledon 2021

 

[James P]

Not even joking, a healthy Milos Raonic would be my 2nd favorite.

He looks like he will either not play or be hopelessly unfit though. But these are trying times.

I actually forgot Raonic existed.

 

[James P]

Is Kevin Anderson playing?

Yep, he's barely qualified for the main draw. Really fallen off a rankings cliff at right around #100 in the world.

 

[Tennisfan339]

Reading this thread, it almost sounds like wimbledon is a WTA tournament this year. lol. Very open, indeed.

I kind of agree about Zverev as #2, despite his loss today. This is the same guy who (2 months ago) miserably lost against Ivashka in a 250 QF and won Madrid a week later, crushing Nadal and 2 other top10. Zverev losing early in a 500 doesn't mean much tbh. outside of his loss against Sinner, he has been very regular in Slams since AO20. If he passes the 1st week he'll have a shot.

IDK about Cilic, F2A, Korda and the other guys mentionned. They could all lose on R1 too. I would love to be wrong about Auger though...
Maybe this is Rublev's chance? He just had 2 weeks to recover after his early loss in FO. I don't count him out for now. And yes, Berrettini is in the top5.

 

[OldBalls]

Not sure if anyone has mentionedHubert hurkacz but he is my dark horse to maybe go deep. Had an early exit at Halle but has the game to trouble lots of players at wimbledon. Took a set off novak last time they met in 2019.

 

[albatros_forehand]

???

Karatsev, a guy without any tour-level grass court experience, is a Dark Horse for Wimby? Are you insane mate, what ya smoking?

 

[ChrisRF]

The problem is, none of those guys will have any chance against Djokovic or even be a tough matchup for him.

For all of them it’s not about lifting the trophy, but hoping to be in the lower half of the draw to be able to play for 2nd place.

 

[Krish872007]

The problem is, none of those guys will have any chance against Djokovic or even be a tough matchup for him.

For all of them it’s not about lifting the trophy, but hoping to be in the lower half of the draw to be able to play for 2nd place.

Largely agree, the key is to see which of those names can land in the other half of the draw

For someone that could take Djokovic out early - maybe one of the the big servers. Isner? Or Hurkacz style player.
Either way Novak >55% odds versus the field at the moment, which is almost on par with some of the odds for Nadal at RG in the past

 

[Enceladus]

I actually forgot Raonic existed.

 

[Enceladus]

What about Tsits? He now knows that in best of 5, you must win 3 sets to win the match.

Tsitsi has weaker ROS. He needs to improve ROS to be a contender for the Wimbledon title.

 

[junior74]

Shapovaloc, Evans, Kyrgios...

Bizarre field now. About as deep as my bath tub.

 

[Blahovic]

Medvedev should in theory have a game that’s translatable to Wimbledon. Flat strokes, big serve, good return. His forehand take back is longer than is ideal, but that’s not a complete dealbreaker. We could see something similar to RG where he’s clearly got the game for the surface when he actually focuses on the big stage.

 

[bigjimbofan]

Tim Mayotte. Oh sorry. That was a few decades ago : )

 

[FlamingCheeto]

When is draw out? i'm going to hedge my bet on DJoker's other side just in case there is a fluke in the final, which there won't be, but i'm making bets now on:

Sinner at 30/1
Berrettini at 30/1
Raonic 40/1
Cilic 50/1
Felix 75/1
and 40 bucks on big John Isner at 100/1

 

[tudwell]

Shapovaloc, Evans, Kyrgios...

Bizarre field now. About as deep as my bath tub.

About as deep as my walk-in shower.

 

[FranzS]

If Djokovic loses we will get a WTA 2021 FO style tournament

Which is not bad actually