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Who will be Wimbledon's shock semi-finalist in 2018?

Kyrgios, Dzumhur, Chardy and Mayer could shake things up...

Kyle Edmund will be looking to improve on his second-round exit to Gael Monfils last year

Kyle Edmund was the Australian Open's surprise package while Marco Cecchinato stunned tennis fans at Roland Garros, but who will be this year's Wimbledon shock semi-finalist?

From Boris Becker's triumph over Anders Jarryd in 1985 to Goran Ivanisevic's epic with Tim Henman in 2001, the All England Club has enjoyed some prodigious semi-finals in its history.

Jerzy Janowicz was arguably Wimbledon's last surprise semi-finalist in 2013.

Seeded just 24th, he fell to a four-set defeat to Andy Murray, who went on to claim his maiden title and end Great Britain's 77-year wait for a home champion.

But who will make the headlines in 2018? We assess some of the shock last-four candidates…

Nick Kyrgios

Australia's Nick Kyrgios reacts against Britain's Kyle Edmund during their men's singles second-round match at the ATP Queen's Club Championships tennis tournament in west London on June 21, 2018.
Image: Nick Kyrgios enjoyed a good tournament at Queen's Club this year

It may not seem like a massive shock for Kyrgios to progress to this year's semi-final but the Australian No 1 has still never been in the last four of a Grand Slam.

His best performances at major tournaments have been two quarter-finals, the first here at Wimbledon in 2014, and another at the Australian Open in 2015.

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The world No 18 has impressed on grass in the last few weeks, getting to the semi-finals of the Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart - where he lost to eventual winner Roger Federer - and achieving the same feat at Queen's Club, defeating Murray in the opening round.

Damir Dzumhur

Damir Dzumhur is seeded 27th for Wimbledon
Image: Damir Dzumhur is seeded 27th for Wimbledon

Bosnia and Herzegovina's No 1 claimed his third ATP Tour title at Antalya Open on Saturday - his first on grass - with a hard-fought 6-1 1-6 6-1 victory over Adrian Mannarino.

Dzumhur has been unlucky to crash out early in both Slams this year, losing to clay-court master Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open, while he pushed Alexander Zverev to five sets at Roland Garros.

Seeded 27th for Wimbledon, and known for his impressive stamina, the world No 23 will be hoping for an easier route this time around which could see him go that little bit further.

Jeremy Chardy

Jeremy Chardy pushed Novak Djokovic all the way at Queen's Club
Image: Jeremy Chardy pushed Novak Djokovic all the way at Queen's Club

If form is anything to go by, world No 46 Chardy is your man. The Frenchman has impressed in his last three tournaments, which have all been played on grass.

He won the Surbiton Trophy in June - admittedly only an ATP Challenger event - but followed up by reaching the final of the Rosmalen Grass Court Championships in the Netherlands and the semi-finals at Queen's Club, losing a tight match to Novak Djokovic.

The 31-year-old has never been past the fourth round at Wimbledon but has previously reached the last eight at the Australian Open, showing he can compete on the big stage.

Florian Mayer

Florian Mayer has reached the last eight at Wimbledon twice
Image: Florian Mayer has reached the last eight at Wimbledon twice

The German veteran won the Halle Open title in 2016. Although he is only ranked No 82, he loves playing on grass.

It's the type of court which has produced his best Grand Slam performances - reaching the Wimbledon quarter-finals in 2004 and 2012 - only losing to Djokovic in the latter tournament, who was the top seed that year.

The 34-year-old has already announced he will be retiring in August and going one better at his favourite Slam, on his best surface, would be the perfect way to bow out.

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