Bollettieri sees some surprises for Wimbledon

Monica Seles, Andre Agassi, Maria Sharapova, Jim Courier. The list of big-time winners who have come under his tutelage is impressive.

But Bolletteri, who has helped coach 10 players who have reached No. 1 in the world, also has a keen appreciation for the spoilers when it comes time to talk tournament contenders at big-time events. He likes to look through the draw and find hidden gems, players who have slipped off the radar or have never been much of a blip.

That’s why Bollettieri is excited about the arrival of Wimbledon on Monday. It’s the grandest of the Grand Slam tournaments and an event where careers can be made in a manner of two weeks.

It’s easy to pick the favorites: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka, Thomas Berdych and David Ferrar on the men’s side.

The list is shorter on the women’s side: Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and, maybe, Li Na.

Then there is everybody else. And those are the people who fascinate Bollettieri.

For instance, who would have picked now-retired Marion Bartoli to win Wimbledon a year ago?

And who could upset the royal order of things this year?

“Hasn’t Sabine Lisicki done so well the last couple years?” Bollettieri asked, knowing the answer. “Is she playing? Where is she?”

Lisicki is currently ranked No. 19 in the world, slowed down by injuries and sporadic results since making it to the Wimbledon final in 2013 before losing to Bartoli.

Bollettieri, of course, has a vested interest in Lisicki, who has trained at Bradenton’s IMG Academy for years. But he also has a point, or two.

Lisicki has a history of doing well on the grass at Wimbledon. She reached the semifinals in 2011 and made it to the quarterfinals in 2009 and 2012.

She plays with confidence on tennis’ biggest stage. And if she gets hot at the right time . . .

“She can knock out anybody, and I mean anybody at any time,” said Bollettieri, who will be at Wimbledon through the first week of the tournament. “It ain’t going to be easy to come into the tournament when your last few months have not been good. But this isn’t a 10-rounder. She has a one-two punch. If her serve is on . . .”

Bollettieri also likes the potential of players like Ekaterina Makarova and Eugenie Bouchard.

“Makarova has been doing very well,” Bollettieri said. “Bouchard, she can hurt you. They can play. To me, they would be spoilers.”

So would Simona Halep, ranked No. 3 in the world.

So is Ana Ivanovic, a one-time wunderkind, who won her first grass court tournament on the women’s tour last week. “She is playing much better,” Bollettieri said. “But can she win it? I don’t think so.”

Some say Agnieszka Radwanska and Victoria Azarenka are contenders. Bollettieri says pretenders.

There are other possibilities, from veteran Jelena Jankovic, another Bollettieri protege, to Petra Kvitova and her big serve.

Bollettieri also mentions Sam Stosur and Caroline Wozniacki before dismissing them because their style of play.

Of course, any challenge on the women’s side must go through Serena Williams and Sharapova.

Bollettieri says he would bet his last dime that Williams won’t flame out early like she did at the French Open. “You have to put that aside. No matter what anyone says, she is the favorite,” Bollettieri said.

Sharapova is right there, too, after capturing the French Open crown. “She picked up a lot of confidence,” noted Bollettieri about Sharapova, a former Wimbledon winner who first came to the Bollettieri academy at the age of 7.

Bollettieri believes that it will be harder for a pretender to get past the four favorites in the men’s draw — Djokovic, Nadal, Murray and Federer.

“If you had to pin me down, I would say Djokovic would have to be the guy who is standing on top,” Bolletteri said.

He knows Nadal arrives with confidence from winning another French Open. And he points out that this may be Federer’s best chance to add another Grand Slam title to his glittering résumé.

Murray may be the man in the most trouble. He has been injured, has the pressure of defending his title as an Englishman, has hired a new coach in Amelie Mauresmo, and has no bite on his second serve.

So, spoilers? The cast of characters would include legitimate challengers in players like Stan Wawrinka, Tomas Berdych and David Ferrar. But Bollettieri believes Wawrinka won’t be around the final weekend.

Berdych? “He can hurt you, but to go all the way? I don’t think so.”

Ferrar? “A wonderful fighter, you have to give him the medal of honor for how he competes. But win Wimbledon? That would be almost impossible.”

Then there are those outsiders, hoping to catch lightning in a bottle, players like Milos Raonic and Ernests Gulbis.

True spoilers? “You can’t count out (Philipp) Kohlschreiber. Watch out for John Isner. And you have to look out for a player like (Kevin) Anderson,” he said.

Then there is Marin Cilic. He is seeded only No. 27 but Bollettieri likes his potential, saying, “Remember, he can knock out anybody.”

The wild card, because of recent injuries, is another player who has been at Bradenton’s IMG Academy for years — Kei Nishikori.

“Kei is tough as hell,” Bollettieri said. “If he doesn’t hurt that hamstring, then you put him in there. He is terrific.”

So is Wimbledon with its two weeks of possibilities.