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WIMBLEDON '17: Kvitova, Venus Williams past champs in field

Posted June 29, 2017 7:00 am

By HOWARD FENDRICH

FILE - In this Sept. 10, 2016, file photo, Angelique Kerber, of Germany, returns a shot to Karolina Pliskova, of the Czech Republic, during the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, in New York. Kerber is the No. 1 seed women's player at Wimbledon, where play starts Monday. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File) The Associated Press

Women to watch at Wimbledon, where play begins Monday:

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ANGELIQUE KERBER

Seeded: 1

Ranked: 1

Age: 29

Country: Germany

2017 Match Record: 19-13 (entering Eastbourne tournament)

2017 Singles Titles: 0

Career Singles Titles: 10

Major Titles: 2 - Australian Open ('16), U.S. Open ('16)

Last 5 Wimbledons: '16-Runner-Up, '15-Lost in 3rd Round, '14-QF, '13-2nd, '12-SF

Aces: Still trying to find her way in 2017 after reaching her first three major finals last season, including at the All England Club. ... She is 0-7 vs. top-20 opponents this year, after going 24-9 last year.

Topspin: Became first woman seeded No. 1 to lose in the French Open's first round in the professional era, emblematic of a real step back this season.

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KAROLINA PLISKOVA

Seeded: 3

Ranked: 3

Age: 25

Country: Czech Republic

2017 Match Record: 32-9 (entering Eastbourne tournament)

2017 Singles Titles: 2

Career Singles Titles: 8

Major Titles: 0 - Best: RU, U.S. Open ('16)

Last 5 Wimbledons: '16-2nd, '15-2nd, '14-2nd, '13-2nd, '12-1st

Aces: Leads WTA in aces this season (her twin sister, Kristyna, ranks second). ... Only 4-5 for her career at Wimbledon, where the surface should suit her game.

Topspin: Her terrific serve should carry her to more wins on grass than it has so far. ... Victory over Serena Williams in the U.S. Open semifinals last year showed what sort of potential Pliskova has.

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VENUS WILLIAMS

Seeded: 10

Ranked: 11

Age: 37

Country: United States

2017 Match Record: 20-7

2017 Singles Titles: 0

Career Singles Titles: 49

Major Titles: 7 - Wimbledon ('00, '01, '05, '07, '08), U.S. Open ('00, '01)

Last 5 Wimbledons: '16-SF, '15-4th, '14-3rd, '13-Did Not Play, '12-1st

Aces: Making her 20th Wimbledon appearance. ... As usual, didn't play any tuneup events on grass, but has five past titles at Wimbledon.

Topspin: Showed she's still got game by reaching semifinals at All England Club last year for first time since 2008, then getting to Australian Open final in January.

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PETRA KVITOVA

Seeded: 11

Ranked: 12

Age: 27

Country: Czech Republic

2017 Match Record: 6-1

2017 Singles Titles: 1

Career Singles Titles: 20

Major Titles: 2 - Wimbledon ('11, '14)

Last 5 Wimbledons: '16-2nd, '15-3rd, '14-Won Championship, '13-QF, '12-QF

Aces: Wimbledon is third tournament of comeback after getting cut by a knife-wielding intruder at her home in December.

Topspin: Many consider her the favorite for what would be her third Wimbledon title. Best news, though, is simply that she is back in competition.

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JELENA OSTAPENKO

Seeded: 13

Ranked: 14

Age: 20

Country: Latvia

2017 Match Record: 29-11 (entering Eastbourne tournament)

2017 Singles Titles: 1

Career Singles Titles: 1

Major Titles: 1 - French Open ('17)

Last 5 Wimbledons: '16-1st, '15-2nd, '14-DNP, '13-DNP, '12-DNP

Aces: Surprised everyone, including herself, by winning first career tour-level title at French Open. ... 2014 junior Wimbledon champion.

Topspin: With big strokes and confidence to spare, no reason she can't go far. After all, grass - not clay - is her favorite surface.

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GARBINE MUGURUZA

Seeded: 14

Ranked: 15

Age: 23

Country: Spain

2017 Match Record: 23-13

2017 Singles Titles: 0

Career Singles Titles: 3

Major Titles: 1 - French Open ('16)

Last 5 Wimbledons: '16-2nd Rd, '15-RU, '14-1st, '13-2nd, '12-DNP

Aces: Reached first major final at Wimbledon in 2015; the next year, won first major title at French Open.

Topspin: Has struggled all season and does not look ready to contend at the All England Club. In most recent match, lost 6-1, 6-0 on grass at Eastbourne.

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VICTORIA AZARENKA

Seeded: Unseeded

Ranked: 678

Age: 27

Country: Belarus

2017 Match Record: 1-1

2017 Singles Titles: 0

Career Singles Titles: 20

Major Titles: 2 - Australian Open ('12, '13)

Last 5 Wimbledons: '16-DNP, '15-QF, '14-2nd, '13-2nd, '12-SF

Aces: Recently returned to the tour after giving birth to a son. Wimbledon will be her second tournament back. ... Enters Wimbledon via a protected ranking.

Topspin: She's twice made the semifinals at Wimbledon and has the muscle memory of two runs to Grand Slam titles. Has missed the past four majors, though, so there is a lot accumulated rust.

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Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich

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More AP tennis coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/apf-Tennis

FILE - In this March 15, 2016, file photo, Karolina Pliskova, of the Czech Republic, reacts to winning a game against Johanna Konta, of Britain, at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, in Indian Wells, Calif. Pliskova is the No. 3 women's player at Wimbledon, where play begins Monday. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this March 13, 2017, file photo, Venus Williams returns a shot to Lucie Safarova at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, in Indian Wells, Calif. Venus Williams is making her 20th Wimbledon appearance. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this May 28, 2017, file photo, Petra Kvitova, of the Czech Republic, returns the ball to Julia Boserup, of the United States, during their first round match of the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros stadium, in Paris. Many consider Kvitova the favorite for what would be her third Wimbledon title. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this June 10, 2017, file photo, Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko kisses the trophy after winning the women's final match of the French Open tennis tournament against Romania's Simona Halep, at Roland Garros stadium, in Paris. Play at Wimbledon begins on Monday. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this March 24, 2017, file photo, Garbine Muguruza, of Spain, reaches for a return to Christina McHale during the Miami Open tennis tournament, in Key Biscayne, Fla. Muguruza reached her first major final at Wimbledon in 2015. Play at Wimbledon begins on Monday (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this March 28, 2016, file photo, Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, returns to Garbine Muguruza during the Miami Open tennis tournament in Key Biscayne, Fla. Azarenka has made it to the Wimbledon semifinals twice. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz, FIle) The Associated Press

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