Carlos Alcaraz had a disappointing second half of 2023. Photo: Shutterstock/Jose Mendez
Do you agree with Simon Briggs' predictions? Let us know in the comments section below.
Male Movie Star: Jack Draper
You could call it wishful thinking, Brit-centric thinking. But it's not just me. Jannik Sinner and Andrey Rublev are among the experts who have predicted Draper's breakout status in 2023. If they were wrong, it was due to a shoulder injury that wiped out his entire season on the grass. Still, given her clean bill of health, the 22-year-old has it all: strength, athleticism, ambition and a healthy dose of mutt.
Women's Breakthrough Star: Qinwen Zheng
As the world No. 16, Qinwen has already performed well on tour. But other than tennis tragedies, who has heard of a player with a modest 14-8 win-loss record at major tournaments? The fact is that Qinwen remains underestimated. Her game – especially on the court – is much stronger than her results, rankings and international profile suggest. She also discovers the value of motivation. After Qingwen's coach Wim Fissette left her in September and returned to Naomi Osaka's camp, she was so upset that she quickly won Zhengzhou, the biggest title of her career.
Men's Player of the Year: Carlos Alcaraz
Novak Djokovic would be the obvious answer here, and it's possible he could dominate the tour again in 2024. his taking six out of ten before the end of Wimbledon will be the catalyst for some brutal introspection. Morally, Alcaraz needs to balance his creative talent with more steel. Technically, there is still work to be done on returning the forehand serve. But remember: he's still only 20.
Women's Player of the Year: Coco Gauff
It may seem strange to think that up until September's US Open, Gauff's career seemed in danger of stagnating. After all, she's still only 19. But she's already played more than three full seasons on tour – 211 matches in total – and it's time to show some strength. That's exactly what she accomplished in New York with the help of her two new trainers, Brad Gilbert and Pere Riba, who weren't so much good cop/bad cops as they were loud cop/quiet cops. Riba (quietly) has since left to reunite with her former ward Qinwen Zheng, but even without him, Gauff is well positioned to secure her first Grand Slam title.
Coco Gauff won her first Grand Slam title at the 2023 US Open. Photo: Getty Images/Angela Weiss What we're looking forward to most in 2024…
Naomi Osaka's return after giving birth. Given that Osaka won her last title in Melbourne three years ago, there is no reason to believe she can immediately return to the top of the game. But how fun it would be if she did. Osaka's basic game is full of highlights – even if she never learned how to volley – and her serve is one of the few that bears comparison to her childhood idol, Serena Williams. What she's lacked in recent years is the ability to cope with the touring lifestyle every week. But maybe everything will change in her new, family environment?
Wimbledon champion in men's singles: Novak Djokovic
Here's one banker I can't reasonably argue against. Djokovic was on a 34-match winning streak at Wimbledon – and a 10-year unbeaten run on Center Court – when Alcaraz ended a disappointing season in July. It's hard to see lightning striking again next year, given Djokovic's harmonious relationship with the grass, the club and the tournament (if not necessarily the fans). Tag him for an eighth title, equaling Federer.
Novak Djokovic will be looking to reclaim his Wimbledon singles crown. in 2024 Photo: Getty Images/Nathan Stirk Wimbledon women's singles champion: Ons Jabeur
We started with the choice we wanted, so let's end with another. Jabeur was selected into the Wimbledon women's draw after the pandemic, posting a 16-3 win-loss record. However, she simply cannot find her way to the finish line. After finishing second to Elena Rybakina in 2022, she suffered a major choke against Marketa Vondrousova in July. Normally adventurous and cheerful, Jabeur continues to lose her mojo during such anxious moments. But perhaps, as in the case of Jana Novotna in 1998, in 2024 this will be the third case of luck.
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