Recently crowned French Open Champion, Iga Swiatek pulled out of next week’s Berlin Open, citing a shoulder injury. While the Polish sensation and world no. 1 aims to be fit in time for Wimbledon, the injury puts in jeopardy her grass-court preparations. The 21-year-old still stands a chance to bring her smooth tennis to the lawns of SW19, but a few others might not be as lucky (the ban on Russian and Belarussians out of this). We look at five names weighed down by injury, with talk of their participation ranging from the ‘sure miss’ to the ‘mildly doubtful’.

Also Read: ‘Just the beginning’ says Iga Swiatek’s coach after she wins 2nd Grand Slam

1. Roger Federer

Suffering from a recurring knee injury, the Swiss master and eight-time Wimbledon champion will miss his first grass-court grand slam since his professional debut in July 1998. Having undergone three knee surgeries since February 2020, Federer hopes to return for September’s Laver Cup, but not in time for his beloved Major.

2. Alexander Zverev

The German was amidst a titanic tussle against eventual French Open Champion Rafa Nadal before rolling his ankle, deep into the second set. It would not merely dash his hopes of a Paris final, but with several torn ligaments, Wimbledon is more or less out of question. Having undergone surgery recently, the soon-to-be World no. 2 hopes to be back in time for the US Open.

3. Rafael Nadal

It is a wonder that Rafael Nadal has managed to prolong his career into its 21st year, let alone still boss the circuit! But suffering from Mueller-Weiss Syndrome- a rare degenerative foot disease- Nadal has been playing with heavy doses of anaesthesia in his left foot. But by his own admission, if there is no solution for a hitherto undiagnosed disorder, Nadal may have to call it quits on a game he stands in the pantheon of, not just the upcoming Wimbledon!

Also Read: What is the Mueller-Weiss Syndrome, Nadal’s major handicap?

4. Emma Raducanu

The Toronto-born Brit has been down with niggles for much of 2022. After her second-round loss in the French Open, she suffered more frustration in the ongoing Rothesay Open at the Nottingham Tennis Centre. Down with a side-strain, the British world no.1 had to pull out of her first-round clash against Viktorija Golubic. Certain to miss Birmingham’s Rothesay Classic, she might still be fighting fit for Wimbledon after scans revealed that her injury wasn’t too serious.

5. Leylah Fernandez

Raducanu’s opponent from the 2021 US Open is giving Wimbledon the skip. Suffering from a grade 3 stress fracture in her right foot, Canadian Fernandez has set her sights on August’s Citi Open at Washington for her return.