Wimbledon women’s singles draw: 5 most dangerous unseeded players – ft. Naomi Osaka, Emma Raducanu
Wimbledon-unseeded-USE
It is less than one week until Wimbledon gets underway, with all eyes on who will claim the women’s singles titles at the All England Club.
While the likes of Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka, and Elena Rybakina are the favourites for victory, there is strength and depth everywhere you look.
Ahead of Friday’s draw, we look at five big names who are unseeded at SW19 – and who the top players will be desperate to avoid.
Emma Raducanu
One of the biggest stars in British tennis, all eyes will be on Raducanu when she returns to SW19 this summer.
Raducanu missed the tournament last year after surgery but few can forget her breakthrough run three years ago, where she reached the fourth round – before her stunning US Open win later that summer.
The Brit’s chances will likely be dependent on her draw, but she is not someone anyone will want to see near them in the draw.
She will have overwhelming crowd support throughout the tournament and, having played well this grass season, will be tough to stop.
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Naomi Osaka
After being a point away from beating Swiatek at the French Open, all eyes are on what Osaka could do in her first Wimbledon campaign since 2019.
Grass has not been the happiest hunting ground for the former world No 1 previously but after a surprisingly strong clay season, she did impress in her first grass event in ‘s-Hertogenbosch.
The four-time major champion has never made it past round three at the All England Club but does have the game to thrive on the surface.
Having grown in confidence since her return at the beginning of 2024, Osaka’s big serve and equally big groundstrokes will make her one to avoid in the draw.
Karolina Muchova
Muchova’s absence from the tour in 2024 has been a huge disappointment, with the Czech not playing until the grass season after wrist surgery – the latest injury setback she has faced.
However, she has impressed in her comeback tournament – reaching the last eight in Eastbourne – and has clear Grand Slam pedigree.
Alongside her run to the French Open final last season, the former world No 8 is a US Open and Australian Open semi-finalist – and reached the last eight of Wimbledon in 2019 and 2021.
With huge variety, great all-court movement, and a good serve, the Czech could cause havoc.
Bianca Andreescu
Much like Muchova, the WTA has been poorer for the absence of Andreescu in recent months.
The Canadian – the US Open champion in 2019 – is one of the most fun competitors to watch in the women’s game, but only returned at Roland Garros after being sidelined for the best part of 10 months.
Now back playing, the former world No 4 competed well at the French Open on her way to the third round and then beat Osaka on her way to the final in ‘s-Hertogenbosch.
Wimbledon hasn’t always been the best Slam for her, having never made the second week, but she was close to knocking out Ons Jabeur in the third round a year ago – and will be a threat once again.
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Karolina Pliskova
Only three years ago, Pliskova was in the final of Wimbledon, losing a narrow three-setter to Ashleigh Barty in a battle of former world No 1’s.
A two-time Slam runner-up, the Czech star has had a bit of a love-hate relationship with Wimbledon and despite winning the title in Cluj earlier in the year, has had an up-and-down 18 months or so.
But the former world No 1 did reach the final in Nottingham just over a week ago, and her big serve will always make her one to watch on the grass.
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