The nation’s favourite summer sporting event has started, and there’s only one question on British fans’ lips: can Andy Murray win again?

Last year, the Scot defeated Milos Raonic in straight sets to take his second Wimbledon title, but with injuries mounting and Murray struggling for form, can the world number one and tournament top seed make it a “three-peat” at SW19? We’re going to take a look at his chances.

2017 form so far

 Murray rose to number one in the world rankings for the first time in the latter weeks of 2016, and with rivals either injured or out of form, many experts tipped Murray to further add to his haul of three Grand Slam titles this year.

It hasn’t worked out that way, however, as early exits in the Australian Open and French Open (for more on Murray and the French Open, see this 888sport article) can testify. Sir Andy, as he’s been known since being knighted in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours, has suffered from an elbow injury all year and has barely played on a grass surface since emerging victorious 12 months ago. Queen’s, the warm-up tournament that Murray has won five times, saw the Scot knocked out in the first round, meaning that he is out of practice for Wimbledon.

Can Murray repeat his magic?

 The formbook doesn’t look great, but Centre Court has proved a charmed surface for Murray ever since he made his debut at Wimbledon in 2005. Since losing to Marcos Baghdatis in the fourth round in 2006, Murray has never failed to reach the quarter-final stage, reaching seven semi-finals and three finals in that time. With the rapturous home support and the famous “Murray Mount” on his side, it would take a brave man to bet against him this time around.

Competitors

For the first time, Murray is seeded number one for the tournament, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that success is on the cards – in the last ten years, only Roger Federer (2007) and Novak Djokovic (2014 and 2015) have got their hands on the Wimbledon singles title having been ranked at the top of the draw. One of those two men should be Murray’s final opponent, assuming that everything goes as expected.

Rafael Nadal, number four seed and twice Wimbledon champion, is in Murray’s half of the draw, meaning that the Scot could bump into the Spaniard in the semi-finals. Nadal hasn’t made a real mark on the competition since 2011, though, so Murray may also want to keep an eye on the hot-tempered but talented Nick Kyrgios, the dangerous Stan Wawrinka and 2014 US Open winner Marin Čilić, who are all more than capable of springing a surprise on their day.

2017 hasn’t been a great year so far for Murray, but the formbook often goes out of the window when it comes to the Big Four – we could be celebrating a second consecutive win come the final on 16th July.

This is a sponsored post.