Grass-court season: The women to watch

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Sabine Lisicki

The German, 24, is the closest thing to a grass-court baby you could get. Of her five Wimbledon main-draw appearances, Lisicki has reached the last eight on four occasions, including a semi-final appearance in 2011 and a runners-up finish behind Marion Bartoli last year. She might encapsulate tennis fans worldwide with her beaming smile, but it is her doggedness on the court that has seen her shine on the grass. She beat three major winners on her way to the SW19 final in 2013, what's the bet she becomes one herself in '14?

Zarina Diyas

This Kazakh could be one hell of a surprise packet come Wimbledon. Diyas was 10-2 in grass-court tournaments last year, all three of which she played on the ITF Tour on Japan. While she did not have a top-200 opponent coming up against her, she did beat rising Swiss teenager Belinda Bencic to win the $25,000 tournament in Makinohara. She has won 17 of 23 pro-tour matches on the surface. You can't buy that experience at age 20. One to watch.

Camila Giorgi

The pint-sized Italian has fourth- and third-round appearances at Wimbledon to her name, and she is only 22. While her name has been tarnished by reports she and her camp ripped off people who invested in her, the French resident has gone on her merry way, rising to 50th in the world, and enjoying success on the grass. It has taken an eventual finalist to bring her down at her past two visits to the All England Club, while in 2011, she was ousted by eventual quarter-finalist Tsvetana Pironkova on Wimbledon debut. A kinder draw in London, and Giorgi can do some damage.

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Grass-court season: The women to watch