Wimbledon stage set for returning hero Murray

Djokovic, without a grand slam title since the Australian Open in 2013, will be leading the cast of players hoping to take advantage of any Murray weakness, while world No.1 Rafa Nadal has a point to prove after two successive Wimbledon shockers.

Murray’s preparation this year is in marked contrast to 2013 when he missed the French Open with a back injury but arrived at Wimbledon firing on all cylinders after several weeks of grasscourt practice and a title run at Queen’s.

Their collaboration began somewhat disappointingly as Murray surrendered his Queen’s Club title by losing to Czech veteran Radek Stepanek – a third round defeat that ended a 19-match winning streak on grass dating back to the 2012 Olympics.

Former Wimbledon champion Mauresmo, who hated the scrutiny she experienced at the French Open, will find her every facial expression captured by the camera lenses as she attempts to help guide Murray through a draw loaded with pitfalls.

Djokovic, the champion in 2011, tops the seeding with twice former champion Nadal demoted to two after failing to survive past the second round for the last two years.

Nadal beat Djokovic to win a ninth French Open title this month but after an embarrassing defeat by German maverick Dustin Brown at the Halle warm-up event there are doubts over the Spaniard’s grass-court prospects.

Of the other contenders for Murray’s crown, Australian Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka is long overdue a run at Wimbledon having only won one match in his last four visits.