This image is a derivative of Citi Open 2014, by JC (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Wimbledon - like every other Grand Slam tournament on the ATP’s 'Lack of Competitive Diversity Tour' - hasn’t been immune to the 'Big 3s' complete dominance.

In fact, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic have shared 14 of the last 16 All-England crowns, with Scotland’s Andy Murray - who's greatness has emerged in a more subtle way - chipping in for the other two.

Not since Lleyton Hewitt’s straight-sets evisceration of Argentina’s David Nalbandian in 2002 has a Wimbledon title been won by someone other than the 'Big 3' or Andy Murray, and, while, on one hand, we should continue to celebrate the incredible standards these sporting leviathans have set, on the other, we can equally bemoan how humdrum men’s tennis can be at times, especially in contrast to the wild unpredictability of the WTA Tour.

However, despite the stranglehold the 'Big 3' have maintained at Grand Slam level for almost twenty years now, Wimbledon in recent years has been a place where fairytales have - at least, almost - come true.  

Each of Milos Raonic, Marin Cilic and Kevin Anderson have broken through to contest the Wimbledon Men's Final over the last three years, providing much hope to so many of the ATP Tour's frustrated and anguished participants that maybe, just maybe, their time will come.

And, while claiming the ultimate prize may be a step too far for so many of these men, it doesn’t mean there’s nothing to play for.

Here, we’ll look at five players with so much to prove over the next two weeks, as well as five long-shot, outsider, kind-of-crazy prospects whose credentials warrant at least some consideration.

RELATED: Wimbledon in Numbers: Statistics and Records

5 MEN TO KEEP YOUR EYE ON AT WIMBLEDON

DOMINIC THIEM

Really, Dominic Thiem is just too good and too consistent a player to have only the one Masters Crown - Indian Wells, 2019 - to his name.

And, while the 23-year old Austrian has made the last two French Open Finals, one can't help but feel something really big is waiting for him just around the corner.

Sure, Thiem has a rather pedestrian 5-5 win-loss record at Wimbledon, and, sure, he has never advanced beyond the Round of 16 at the All England Club, but Wimbledon 2019 makes for a perfect opportunity to break free of his clay-court dependency and demonstrate to the tennis world why he’s ranked #4 in the world, and that he’s more than capable of contesting major tournaments outside of Paris.

Stats Insider Tennis WORLD RANKING: #7

Stats Insider GRASS COURT RANKING: #183

TAB Odds: $34

MILOS RAONIC

Canada’s Milos Raonic remains one of the tennis’ forgotten men. When Milos unbelievably turns 29 later in the year, there’s every chance he’ll be sipping on his eggnog lamenting how large a role injuries have played in his professional career.

Thankfully, the next month of tennis can change the narrative for the gigantic, big-serving Canadian.

While Raonic hasn’t won a title of any description in three and a half years, he is one man on tour who has at least broken through to a Grand Slam Final - which he, of course, did at Wimbledon, 2016 - and where he boasts a ridiculously strong 24-8 record.

Raonic has qualified for at least the Quarter Finals in four of his last five All England appearances and would be expecting another strong showing in 2019.

Stats Insider Tennis WORLD RANKING: #16

Stats Insider GRASS COURT RANKING: #4

TAB Odds: $34

ALEXANDER ZVEREV

Few players on tour have disappointed tennis fans more than the promising young German, in 2019.

Zverev has long been viewed as one of tennis’ next generation, and one capable of taking over Grand Slam tournaments the moment Nadal, Federer or Djokovic ever feel like relinquishing their respective vice-like grips.

But, Zverev has continually struggled to make a major imprint at Grand Slam level. Despite the 22-year-old already amassing 11 career titles, he has continually come up short at the majors.

From 16 Grand Slam appearances, Zverev has just two QF appearances, both at the French Open, and both where he failed to win a single set in those matches.

Zverev now has the great Ivan Lendl in his corner, though the two are yet to build the type of partnership the Lendl-Murray combination was able to.

Anything less than a Quarter Final showing at Wimbledon and the Zverev bandwagon will have a lot of customers asking for refunds.

Stats Insider Tennis WORLD RANKING: #6

Stats Insider GRASS COURT RANKING: #20

TAB Odds: $21

RELATED: 2019 Wimbledon Men Singles Tournament Simulator

NICK KYRGIOS

Hidden beneath all of the antics, hysteria and headlines that revolve around Australia's 'bad boy,' Nick Kyrgios is a seriously talented tennis player who’s best is unquestionably elite, as evidenced by the 6-6 record he holds against the 'Big 3.'

Still only 24 years old, and with five career titles, it is, however, Grand Slam events where Kyrgios often goes missing - and where his next tantrum or act of petulance seems to be waiting around every corner.

Kyrgios pulled out of the French Open with a predictable barrage of criticism and hostility towards the Parisian clay, yet here he is on a surface that should absolutely suit his game.

Stats Insider Tennis WORLD RANKING: #17

Stats Insider GRASS COURT RANKING: #27

TAB Odds: $41

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS

The young Greek possibly has the most rounded game of all the young contenders to break open the Nadal-Federer-Djokovic monopoly.

At just 20 years of age and already ranked #6 in the world, it's only a matter of time before Tsitsipas makes one almighty splash on tour. And what better place to do it than Wimbledon?

Tsitsipas has already amassed a 13-8 Grand Slam record and broken through to a major Semi Final, which he did courtesy of his slaying of Roger Federer at the Australian Open.

Stats Insider Tennis WORLD RANKING: #8

Stats Insider GRASS COURT RANKING: #44

TAB Odds: $17

THE 5 LONG-SHOTS

FELIX AUGER-ALISSAME

This young Canadian has been the best story in tennis this year.

The Montreal-born Auger-Aliassme has already climbed to #21 in the world without having set foot in a Grand Slam main draw.

His rise in 2019 has been truly exceptional, having entered 2019 as a virtual unknown and ranked outside the ATP's Top 100. The 18-year-old has taken all before him this season, incredibly reaching the Finals in Rio, Lyon and Stuttgart.

A big showing is most definitely on the cards at Wimbledon.

Stats Insider Tennis WORLD RANKING: #37

Stats Insider GRASS COURT RANKING: #35

TAB Odds: $31

DANIIL MEDVEDEV

The 23-year-old Russian has quietly collected four career titles and enters Wimbledon 2019 with a career-high ATP ranking of #13.

And, while possessing an uninspiring 9-10 record at Grand Slam level there's a sense that a bright lights breakthrough is in the offing.

Stats Insider Tennis WORLD RANKING: #15

Stats Insider GRASS COURT RANKING: #25

TAB Odds: $51

STAN WAWRINKA

Since crashing out in the second round of Wimbledon 2018, ‘The Stanimal’ hasn’t had the best time on tour, coming nowhere near the heights of his 2014-2016 form, which saw him compile a 48-9 record at Grand Slam level which included three major crowns.

There is, however, reason to believe 'Stan the Man' is coming back to life. A brave QF run at the Madrid Masters was a good lead-in to the French Open where he also made the Quarter Final, and even took a set off his old pal, Roger Federer.

Elite men’s tennis is a better place with Stan in top form, and hopefully, Wimbledon 2019 proves fertile ground for just that.

Stats Insider Tennis WORLD RANKING: #9

Stats Insider GRASS COURT RANKING: #62

TAB Odds: $67

SAM QUERREY

While at 31 years old, Sam Querrey has become very much part of the ATP’s furniture, he’s also one of its most underappreciated, consistently good performers.

The big American also a grass court specialist, ranked at #8 on Stats Insider's own custom-built rankings, and sports an incredible 62-36 record on the surface which included a SF appearance at Wimbledon in 2017.

There’s no reason to think 'Big Sam' isn’t capable of a similar shock in 2019.

Stats Insider Tennis WORLD RANKING: #49

Stats Insider GRASS COURT RANKING: #8

TAB Odds: $151

FELICIANO LOPEZ

Feliciano Lopez: 'tennis player' is one thing.

Feliciano Lopez on a grass court is another.

The 37-year old Spaniard lives for the grass court season, and boasts a 33-17 record at Wimbledon - which to this point, has unfortunately never been enough for him to advance past a Quarter Final. This could well be the year all of Lopez’s grass acumen comes together on the biggest stage of all.

Stats Insider Tennis WORLD RANKING: #79

Stats Insider GRASS COURT RANKING: #5

TAB Odds: $151

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