Who thrives on grass: European players ready to surprise at Wimbledon
Over the past few weeks, all the key grass-court tournaments have wrapped up — Stuttgart, ’s-Hertogenbosch, Berlin, Halle, Queen’s, Eastbourne, Bad Homburg, Nottingham and Mallorca. Racket One has been keeping a close eye on the action, analysing performances on grass, and is now ready to share its picks for players who could make a surprise run at Wimbledon. They’re not the obvious favourites — they’re the dark horses who just might go further than anyone expects.
Marketa Vondrousova, the 2023 Wimbledon champion, made a strong return after a long injury layoff by winning the WTA 500 tournament in Berlin, where she defeated Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals. That match was a perfect example of how the Czech lefty can outsmart power players. Sabalenka may hit and serve harder, but Vondrousova’s spin-heavy left-handed game and soft hands can throw opponents off balance. Her slicing and drop shots are true weapons on grass, allowing her to disrupt rhythm and control the tempo.
And of course, she’s already a Grand Slam champion. No matter how much people talk about the unpredictability of the women’s tour, Marketa has proven she knows how to win on grass — and no one can take that experience away from her.
Jiri Lehecka has textbook technique that allows him to play clean, effective tennis on any surface. In London, he defeated Jack Draper and even took a set off Carlos Alcaraz before eventually falling short. Lehecka’s main challenge has often been mental — lapses in key moments that prevent him from closing out matches he otherwise controls. Still, he’s in excellent form right now. If he can stay composed, there’s every reason to believe he can go deeper at Wimbledon this year — the fourth round definitely shouldn’t be his ceiling.
Jack Draper is currently the brightest hope for British tennis. Although he lost to Lehecka in London, that doesn’t diminish his potential. With a big serve and an aggressive baseline game, his style is tailor-made for grass. He’s also noticeably bulked up over the past year, which has helped improve his stamina — a key limitation earlier in his career. If Draper stays healthy and focused, he could definitely make a serious run at Wimbledon.
Iga Swiatek is, by results, one of the least comfortable top players on grass. Her recent run to the final in Hamburg — where she lost to Jessica Pegula — marked the first grass-court final of her pro career. Still, it would be unfair to say she’s completely incompatible with the surface — after all, she won the junior title at Wimbledon. Iga is in need of a breakthrough here and clearly motivated to prove her doubters wrong. With that drive, she might just deliver a surprising result this year.
Lorenzo Musetti hasn’t played since Roland Garros, but he remains one of the most technically gifted players on tour — and his game translates beautifully to natural surfaces like grass. With his elegant one-handed backhand, crafty forehand, and sharp sense of rhythm, he’s tailor-made for a surface that rewards variety and creativity. On top of that, the Italian will be extra motivated this year as he defends semifinal points from his deep run in London last season.
Cover photo: Marketa Vondrousova. Photo by Peter Menzel /Wikimedia Commons
