LONDON (AP) – Women to watch at Wimbledon, where play begins Monday:
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SIMONA HALEP
FILE – In this June 9, 2018, file photo, Romania’s Simona Halep celebrates winning the final match of the French Open tennis tournament against Sloane Stephens of the U.S. in three sets, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France. Halep is expected to compete in the Wimbledon tennis tournament that begins Monday, July 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)
Seeded: 1
Ranked: 1
Age: 26
Country: Romania
2018 Match Record: 35-6
2018 Singles Titles: 2
Career Singles Titles: 17
Grand Slam Singles Titles: 1 – French Open (’18)
Last 5 Wimbledons: ’17-Lost in Quarterfinals, ’16-QF, ’15- 1st, ’14-SF, ’13-2nd
Aces: Went 6-0 in 3-setters during clay circuit. … Leads tour in percentage of return games won at 50.2 this season.
Topspin: Pulled out of grass-court tuneup in Eastbourne, citing an Achilles injury. … Coming off first major title, at Roland Garros, so finally knows she can win the big one.
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CAROLINE WOZNIACKI
Seeded: 2
Ranked: 2
Age: 27
Country: Denmark
2018 Match Record: 31-9
2018 Singles Titles: 2
Career Singles Titles: 29
Grand Slam Singles Titles: 1 – Australian Open (’18)
Last 5 Wimbledons: ’17-4th, ’16-1st, ’15-4th, ’14-4th, ’13-2nd
Aces: 2006 junior champion at Wimbledon. … First Grand Slam title as a professional came in January in Australia.
Topspin: Wimbledon is only major where she’s never reached at least a quarterfinal; showed she knows how to get her game to work on grass by winning Eastbourne title Saturday.
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GARBINE MUGURUZA
Seeded: 3
Ranked: 3
Age: 24
Country: Spain
2018 Match Record: 21-11
2018 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 6
Grand Slam Singles Titles: 2 – Wimbledon (’17), French Open (’16)
Last 5 Wimbledons: ’17-Won Championship, ’16-2nd, ’15-Runner-Up, ’14-1st, ’13-2nd
Aces: Is the only player to beat each Williams sister in a Grand Slam final, including Venus at Wimbledon for last year’s title.
Topspin: Dropped only one set on the way to the 2017 trophy at the All England Club and certainly capable of another such run.
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SLOANE STEPHENS
Seeded: 4
Ranked: 4
Age: 25
Country: United States
2018 Match Record: 21-9
2018 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 6
Grand Slam Singles Titles: 1 – U.S. Open (’17)
Last 5 Wimbledons: ’17-1st, ’16-3rd, ’15-3rd, ’14-1st, ’13-QF
Aces: Either reached the final or lost in the first round at each of the past four major tournaments, including title in New York and runner-up showing in Paris.
Topspin: Her court coverage and ability to go from defense to offense make her a threat on all surfaces, including grass.
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PETRA KVITOVA
Seeded: 8
Ranked: 8
Age: 28
Country: Czech Republic
2018 Match Record: 37-7
2018 Singles Titles: 5
Career Singles Titles: 25
Grand Slam Singles Titles: 2 – Wimbledon (’11, ’14)
Last 5 Wimbledons: ’17-2nd, ’16-2nd, ’15-3rd, ’14-W, ’13-QF
Aces: Pulled out of grass-court tuneup with hamstring injury. … Leads tour with 7-1 record against top-10 opponents in 2018.
Topspin: A popular pick to win what would be her third title at the All England Club. If she’s healthy, her lefty serve and forehand work well on the grass.
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VENUS WILLIAMS
Seeded: 9
Ranked: 9
Age: 38
Country: United States
2018 Match Record: 10-7
2018 Singles Titles: 0
Career Singles Titles: 49
Grand Slam Singles Titles: 7 – Wimbledon (’00, ’01, ’05, ’07, ’08), U.S. Open (’00, ’01)
Last 5 Wimbledons: ’17-RU, ’16-SF, ’15-4th, ’14-3rd, ’13-Did Not Play
Aces: Making 21st Wimbledon appearance. … Most recent major title came at the All England Club in 2008.
Topspin: After reaching two Grand Slam finals in 2017, lost in first round of both so far in 2018. Every time folks are ready to write her off, though, she makes another strong showing.
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MADISON KEYS
Seeded: 10
Ranked: 10
Age: 23
Country: United States
2018 Match Record: 16-9
2018 Singles Titles: 0
Career Singles Titles: 3
Grand Slam Singles Titles: 0 – Best: RU, U.S. Open (’17)
Last 5 Wimbledons: ’17-2nd, ’16-4th, ’15-QF, ’14-3rd, ’13-3rd
Aces: Only six women have won a higher percentage of service points this year.
Topspin: If she can reach a major semifinal on clay, as she did at Roland Garros, should be able to go far on grass.
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SERENA WILLIAMS
Seeded: 25
Ranked: 183
Age: 36
Country: United States
2018 Match Record: 5-2
2018 Singles Titles: 0
Career Singles Titles: 72
Grand Slam Singles Titles: 23 – Wimbledon (’02, ’03, ’09, ’10, ’12, ’15, ’16), U.S. Open (’99, ’02, ’08, ’12, ’13, ’14), Australian Open (’03, ’05, ’07, ’09, ’10, ’15, ’17), French Open (’02, ’13, ’15)
Last 5 Wimbledons: ’17-DNP, ’16-W, ’15-W, ’14-3rd, ’13-4th
Aces: Playing at the All England Club for the first time since becoming a mother last September. … Sat out Grand Slam action for 16 months until returning at the French Open in May.
Topspin: Never overlook Williams, no matter how few matches she’s played recently.
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Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich
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More AP tennis coverage: https://www.apnews.com/tag/apf-Tennis
FILE – In this Jan. 25, 2018, file photo, Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki eyes the ball to make a return to Belgium’s Elise Mertens during their semifinal at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia. Wozniacki is expected to compete in the Wimbledon tennis tournament that begins Monday, July 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian, File)
FILE – In this Aug. 5, 2017, file photo, Garbine Muguruza, of Spain, returns to Madison Keys, of the United States, during the semifinals of the Bank of the West Classic tennis tournament in Stanford, Calif. Muguruza is expected to compete in the Wimbledon tennis tournament that begins Monday, July 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar, File)
FILE – In this June 9, 2018, file photo, Sloane Stephens of the U.S. returns a shot against Romania’s Simona Halep in the final match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France. Stephens is expected to compete in the Wimbledon tennis tournament that begins Monday, July 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)
FILE – In this May 12, 2018, file photo, Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova returns a ball to The Netherlands’ Kiki Bertens during a Madrid Open tennis tournament final match in Madrid, Spain. Kvitova is expected to compete in the Wimbledon tennis tournament that begins Monday, July 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)
FILE – In this March 16, 2018, file photo, Venus Williams, of the United States, returns a shot against Daria Kasatkina, of Russia, during the semifinals at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, in Indian Wells, Calif. Venus Williams is expected to compete in the Wimbledon tennis tournament that begins Monday, July 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
FILE – In this Jan. 24, 2018, file photo, United States’ Madison Keys makes a forehand return to Germany’s Angelique Kerber during their quarterfinal match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia. Keys is expected to compete in the Wimbledon tennis tournament that begins Monday, July 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian, File)
FILE – In this Jan. 28, 2017, file photo, United States’ Serena Williams makes a backhand return to her sister Venus during the women’s singles final at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia. Serena Williams is expected to compete in the Wimbledon tennis tournament that begins Monday, July 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila, File)
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