This image is a derivative of Federer to serve by James Higgs (CC BY-SA 2.0)

As was widely understood entering Wimbledon 2019, the women’s and men’s halves of tennis presently reside in completely distinct universes from both a competitive diversity perspective as well as basic narrative.  

After the first week of play in the men’s, we’ve seen the ‘Big 3’ of Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic all roll through their opponents, seemingly unchallenged, and with no clear sign of any genuine threat to their collective 51-Grand Slam hegemony.

The three have won a combined 27 of the 30 sets they’ve contested during Wimbledon so far, and should anybody outside of these three claim the 2019 crown, it would constitute one almighty surprise.

Alternatively, the women’s side of the draw has been as thrilling and action-packed as advertised.

Look around and there’s a story waiting to be told within all four quarters of the women’s draw.

Whether it’s Ash Barty’s quest for absolute WTA supremacy or Karolina Pliskova’s search for her maiden Grand Slam title, the women’s side is not lacking for headlines.

The redemption tales of Serena Williams and Petra Kvitova are as compelling as the incredible story of Cori Gauff. Going into the tournament few had even heard of the 15-year-old, yet her run through to the Round of 16 will be remembered for a very long time.

So how are the big contenders for Wimbledon glory in 2019 shaping up ahead of week two?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC

Djokovic’s search for his fifth Wimbledon crown and 16^th Grand Slam title looks airtight with the odds-on favourite cruising through his first three matches.

His section of the draw has already lost six of its eight seeds which will likely ensure smooth sailing through to at least a Semi Final appearance.

STATS INSIDER "WIN" PROBABILITY: 36.2%

ASH BARTY

When the Wimbledon draw was first announced, the sheer amount of elite WTA pedigree that had been crammed into Barty’s quarter appeared to be some kind of twisted joke upon the recently minted world number one.

Barty’s quarter alone consisted of no less than six Grand Slam winners, yet at this stage at it looks as though Barty is having the last laugh with significant carnage amongst the apparent contenders.

Former major winners such as Garbine Muguruza, Angelique Kerber, Maria Sharapova and Sam Stosur have all fallen before the Round of 16, while threatening players like Donna Vekic, Julia Georges and Belinda Bencic also failed to advance beyond the Third Round.

Instead, Quarter One's only remaining players of significant note are Ash Barty and Serena Williams, who seem destined to meet in a Quarter Final, which would pit the greatest of all time against the presumptive world best.  

UPDATE: Defeated by Alison Riske in the Round of 16

ROGER FEDERER

Sometimes it feels as though we could be talking about Wimbledon 2039 with Roger Federer still in our calculations such is the seeming permanence of his brilliant career.

Federer has quietly advanced his overall Wimbledon record to an outrageous 98-12 mark and is now just four victories away from claiming what would be his 21^st Grand Slam title and 9^th Wimbledon crown.

STATS INSIDER "WIN" PROBABILITY: 42.8%

KAROLINA PLISKOVA

Is this the tournament the brilliant Karolina Pliskova finally claims her first ever major championship? For a woman with no less than 14 WTA career titles and who has seemingly kept a permanent residence within the WTA Top 10, the only thing missing from the excellent Pliskova resume is a Grand Slam crown.

Pliskova’s first week at the All-England Club has been faultless, firing down 29 aces so far which ranks first among all women.

Strangely, Pliskova’s progression through to the Round of 16 actually constitutes her best ever performance at Wimbledon however you can be sure she won’t be at all content if the fun was to end here.

UPDATE: Defeated by Karolína Muchová in the Round of 16

RAFAEL NADAL

No, the grass in recent years hasn’t been Nadal's forte, contesting just a solitary Semi Final from his last six Wimbledon tournaments, yet victories over the likes of Nick Kyrgios and Jo-Wilfred Tsonga have been as impressive as any other of the men’s contenders.

Furthermore, the tournament has opened up brilliantly for the legendary Spaniard - now the only seeded player remaining in the third quarter. He now has a very straightforward path through to the semis, which would be his first back-to-back final-four appearance at Wimbledon since 2010-11.

STATS INSIDER "WIN" PROBABILITY: 4.2%

PETRA KVITOVA

Keen observers argue that Kvitova’s best constitutes the tour’s most damaging tennis, and nothing the 2-time Grand slam champion has done so far at Wimbledon this year would dissuade that notion.

Kvitova has been dominant through her first three matches, dropping not a single set and not even having her serve broken once.

Her draw, however, is about to step up in competition, with a much-improved Johanna Konta up next with a potential Quarter Final lined up against the always dangerous Elise Mertens.

UPDATE: Defeated by Johanna Konta in the Round of 16

ROBERTO BAUTISTA-AGUT

The 31-year old Spaniard is one of the ATP’s most reliable competitors, who - if not for the existence of the ‘Big 3’ - would have carved out a resume much more glowing and filled with even more titles.

Most absent from the Bautista-Agut resume is a major tournament Semi Final appearance, which is, however, absolutely within his grasp at Wimbledon 2019.

This is the 27^th Grand Slam main draw Bautista-Agut has qualified for, yet to this point, he has just the solitary Quarter Final appearance to show for his efforts.  

Bautista-Agut hasn’t dropped a set at Wimbledon so far this year, and has a clear path to the QF with a potential assignment with Milos Raonic waiting in the wings.

STATS INSIDER "WIN" PROBABILITY: 12.0%

DAYANA YASTREMKA

The 19-year-old came into Wimbledon 2019 unseeded, yet finds herself in the Round of 16 with a big chance of making a breakthrough Semi Final run.

Yastremka wasn’t a complete unknown on tour, having already collected three WTA titles, however, few were thinking the talented Ukrainian was capable of putting together a deep Grand Slam run so early in her career.

Yastremka will start favourite in her Round of 16 clash with China’s Shuai Zhang, which will give her every chance of extending her fairytale run into the QF and beyond.

UPDATE: Defeated by Zhang Shuai in the Round of 16

MILOS RAONIC

Injuries are always the concern with the gigantic Canadian, but for now, they seem to be out of the way.

Raonic has marauded his way through to the Round of 16 without dropping a set while firing down 59 aces in the process.

Raonic made the Final at the All-England club in 2016, and while he is pitted in the same half of the draw as Novak Djokovic, the Canadian needn’t feel that a return to tennis’ grandest stage is beyond him.

UPDATE: Defeated by Guido Pella in the Round of 16

SERENA WILLIAMS

Lost amid the other headlines at Wimbledon 2019 - at least among the women’s side of the draw - has been the legendary 37-year-old’s simple progression through to the Round of 16.

Williams entered this year’s Wimbledon having barely played in 2019, seeded number #11 and thrown into one of the most difficult quarters in Grand Slam history.

The fact she’s advanced into the second week is a story in itself. Emerging with her 24^th Grand Slam title would be something else entirely.

STATS INSIDER "WIN" PROBABILITY: 46.4%

Chance of other contenders to Wimbledon as per Stats Insider futures:

Men's singles

Kei Nishikori - 4.4%

Sam Querrey - 7.4%

David Goffin - 3.6%

Guido Pella - 0.8%

Women's singles

Simona Halep - 25.8%

Barbora Strýcová - 19.2%

Elina Svitolina - 8.6%

It’s been an amazing week at Wimbledon so far, and we’ve still got a whole week of action to come. Be sure to continue to visit Stats Insider for all of our extensive coverage including our daily match projections and tournament simulators.

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