Naomi Osaka and Emma Raducanu, Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur lead five WTA stars to watch this grass season

The French Open is over, and that can only mean one thing: It’s grass court season.

The shortest swing of the tennis calendar is perhaps the most famous, with some of the most celebrated events on tour taking place before the biggest of them all at Wimbledon .

This year, the women’s game looks set to be as open as ever on the surface, with world No 1 and French Open winner Iga Swiatek more susceptible here than anywhere else.

As the swing gets underway, we look at five women to watch over the next month.

Ons Jabeur

A French Open quarter-final run has sparked Tunisian trailblazer Jabeur back into life at exactly the right time.

Jabeur has suffered heartbreaking defeats in the Wimbledon final the past two years, but – after a dreadful start to 2024 – is back in the form that could see her avenge those losses.

A former champion in Birmingham and Berlin, two of the 29-year-old’s five career titles have come on the surface, for which she has a game tailormade for.

The world No 10 starts her grass season at the WTA 250 event in Nottingham, where she is the top seed.

Naomi Osaka

After a nailbiting loss to Iga Swiatek at the French Open, all eyes are now on what Osaka can do on grass – another surface she has not loved in the past.

The Japanese has committed strongly to this part of the season, playing every week of the swing until her first Wimbledon campaign since 2019.

Former world No 1 Osaka should have a good game for grass, with a big serve and equally big groundstrokes, but has previously struggled with movement on the surface.

But after a solid return to tour so far in 2024, she could be primed to cause some damage this month.

Danielle Collins

US No 3 Collins will embark on her final grass swing full of confidence after a stunning season to date.

Titles in Miami and Charleston have propelled the retiring American back up to the upper echelons of the WTA, and will likely be treating this swing as a free hit.

Wimbledon has been Collins’ weakest Slam – she has never made it past round three – but her big-hitting game should suit the surface.

Expect her to cause some damage over the next few weeks – and then at the All England Club.

Mirra Andreeva

Fresh off her French Open semi-final run, all eyes are on whether Andreeva can continue her momentum on grass.

This is a surface the 17-year-old is comfortable on, reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon last year as a qualifier.

There will be more pressure on her this season as she looks to maintain her top-30 ranking and continue pushing to the top of the game, and it may be possible to outhit her.

But it will be fascinating to see how she fares – and some strong runs look more than possible.

Mirra Andreeva achieves two sensational feats with stunning French Open win over Aryna Sabalenka

Emma Raducanu

Rankings-wise, there is no pressure on Raducanu this summer, with the Brit set to soar up the WTA standings after missing the grass season 12 months ago.

However, the 21-year-old attracts attention anywhere and everywhere she goes, and hopes will be high for her to surge this summer after a topsy-turvy 2024.

Raducanu starts her campaign in Nottingham, before playing in Birmingham and Eastbourne before Wimbledon – where she is nailed on to receive a Wildcard.

It will be interesting to see what form she produces and whether her body will hold up over a mentally and physically demanding few weeks.

Meet the world No 279 and Grand Slam winner who faces Emma Raducanu in Nottingham