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Querrey: Hot prospect
Roger Federer is bidding for a sixth successive Wimbledon title which would surpass Bjorn Borg's open era record of five in a row.
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are the main contenders to dethrone the Swiss star, while British hopes are pinned on Andy Murray.
While the focus is likely to be on the top names in the latter stages of the tournament, we take a look at the emerging talents to look out for in the first week.
Sam Querrey
Querrey - at 6ft 6in - is often described as the next big thing in tennis. The 20-year-old may have fallen in the first round last year but, as long as he avoids one of the big names, he has the potential to go much further this year. Also an accomplished basketball player, he reached round three of the Australian Open in January and appears to be on his way to a place inside the world's top 20.
Steve Darcis
At 24, Darcis has been around for a while but it is only in the last year that the Belgian has begun to fulfil his potential. He won his first ATP title at the Dutch Open last year and burst into the top 100 at the end of the season after starting 2007 ranked 474th. His victory at March's Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis proved that maiden success was not just a flash in the pan. And though it remains to be seen how he will fare at Wimbledon, he does list grass as one of his favourite surfaces.
Juan Martin Del Potro
Del Potro was unfortunate enough to come up against Roger Federer in the second round at Wimbledon last year, unsurprisingly losing in straight sets to the great man. The 19-year-old Argentinian would almost certainly give the world number one a far tougher match were the two to meet in the draw this year. He has already broken into the top 50, although he later dropped out of it. Another big-serving youngster, grass could be just one surface on which he excels.
Ernests Gulbis
Gulbis put Latvia on the tennis map last year by ousting Tim Henman from from the French Open in round one. The 19-year-old followed that up by demolishing Tommy Robredo to reach the US Open fourth round. He struggled to add further big-name scalps to that tally in 2008 until ousting James Blake on the way to the French Open quarter-finals. Comfortable off both wings and intelligent with it, a favourable draw could see him record his first Wimbledon victory following last year's first-round exit.
John Isner
At 6ft 9in, it is no surprise 23-year-old American Isner has been compared to Ivo Karlovic. And like the Croatian, he boasts a booming serve that could prove a deadly weapon on the grass of Wimbledon. He looks like being something of a late developer, only breaking into the top 100 this year after he reached round three of the US Open in 2007. This year has been one of steady improvement as he has cemented his place among the elite.
Donald Young
The reigning Wimbledon boys' champion looks set to be a star of the future after bursting into the top 100 last year. He followed up his SW19 success by reaching the third round in the main draw of the US Open. A left-hander, the 18-year-old was compared to John McEnroe by none other than the man himself. Young comes from tennis stock and is coached by both his father and mother, who are both professional coaches. He is also a former junior world number one.
