Wimbledon 2017: Top five contenders for women's title

PTI, Reuters

London: Five contenders for the women`s title at Wimbledon which gets under way at the All England Club on Monday:

ANGELIQUE KERBER (GER)

Age: 29

World ranking: 1

Career titles: 10

Career Grand Slam titles: 2 (Australian Open 2016, US Open 2016)

Career prize money: $20,034,057

Best Wimbledon performance: Runner-up 2016

-- Kerber made unwanted history at the French Open when her wretched defeat against Ekaterina Makarova made her the first top-ranked woman in the Open era to fall in the opening round. The shock loss extended a frustrating run for Kerber, who won the Australian and US Opens last year, but has yet to claim a single WTA title in 2017. Beaten by Serena Williams in the Wimbledon final 12 months ago, in the American great`s absence, Kerber has a golden opportunity to get back on track on the lawns of south-west London.

SIMONA HALEP (ROM)

Age: 25

World ranking: 2

Career titles: 15

Career Grand Slam titles: 0

Career prize money: $18,381,910

Best Wimbledon performance: Semi-finals 2014

-- Tormented by sleepless nights following her French Open final meltdown against Jelena Ostapenko, Halep would dearly love to erase the painful memory by winning her first Grand Slam crown. Despite holding a one set lead and a 3-0 advantage in the second, Halep couldn`t get over the finish line in Paris. Having also lost the 2014 French Open final, Halep knows she is in danger of becoming a perennial bridesmaid when the big prizes are handed out. "It`s killing me," she said of the loss before starting her grass-court preparations at Eastbourne.

KAROLINA PLISKOVA (CZE)

Age: 25

World ranking: 3

Career titles: 8

Career Grand Slam titles: 0

Career prize money: $8,865,637

Best Wimbledon performance: Second round (four times)

-- Installed as the bookmakers` favourite to win Wimbledon, Pliskova is desperate to finally make an impact at the All England Club after a string of early exits. A serial Wimbledon second round loser, Pliskova does have the game for grass as she showed by 12 months ago after winning the title in Nottingham and finishing runner-up in Eastbourne. Having finished as US Open runner-up and made the semi-finals of the French Open this year, it`s time for the Czech to end her Grand Slam wait. "Even when it`s not one of my best days, I`ve been able to win this year," she said.

AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA (POL)

Age: 28

World ranking: 10

Career titles: 20

Career Grand Slam titles: 0

Career prize money: $26,340,057

Best Wimbledon performance: Runner-up 2012

-- Embarrassed by a dismal straight sets defeat against Alize Cornet at the French Open third round, Radwanska was delighted to kick the clay from her shoes and get back on the grass courts where she feels most comfortable. The Pole`s best Grand Slam run came at Wimbledon five years ago when she took Serena Williams to three sets before losing in the final. Hampered by a foot injury this year, she hasn`t gotten past the fourth round at a major since the 2016 Australian Open, but hopes springs eternal at the All England Club, where she has made the last four on three occasions.

PETRA KVITOVA (CZE)

Age: 27

World ranking: 12

Career titles: 20

Career Grand Slam titles: 2 (Wimbledon 2011, 2014)

Career prize money: $22,968,472

Best Wimbledon performance: Champion 2011, 2014

-- Kvitova capped her remarkable comeback from a career-threatening hand injury by winning the Birmingham title last week in only her second tournament since she was stabbed by an intruder at her home in December. Having returned to action at the French Open, where she was beaten in the second round, big-hitting Kvitova is already in the groove on grass and, providing she shakes off an abdominal strain that forced her out of Eastbourne, the Czech will draw on the experience of her two Wimbledon titles as she eyes another memorable triumph.