Uneven play, surprising comebacks for the Big 5 heading into Wimbledon

The Wimbledon 2017 seedings would have you believe the Big Four of Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal are surging into the year's third major. Seeded Nos. 1 through 4 for the first time at a Grand Slam since Wimbledon 2014, the accomplished quartet have, in fact, taken differing paths back to the All England Club - some considerably rockier than others.

World No. 3 Stan Wawrinka, don't forget, is another to watch. Earning the fifth seed, the French Open runner-up rounds out a quasi-Big Five.

One year ago, Djokovic had just completed his career Grand Slam in Paris, while Murray was nipping at his heels for the world No. 1 spot. But Djokovic has slowly lost his vise grip on the circuit, slipping to No. 4 with only one tourney win this year. Murray has capitalized, seizing the top spot, but he's been awfully quiet in 2017.

Meanwhile, Nadal bounced back from an ugly 2016 with aplomb, dominating the clay-court season and rising to No. 2. And Federer, who was Grand Slam-less since 2012, returned to win the Australian Open and now Wimbledon looks like his to lose.

Here's a deeper look at each player's previous year and their prospects for hoisting the silver gilt cup.

Andy Murray: Champ or chump?

The Scotsman was king at Queen's Club in June 2016, his second title and fifth final out of eight tournaments played through the first half of the year. His stellar performance continued at Wimbledon, and he ended the year by capturing the ATP Finals and world No. 1 ranking.

But Murray is having a Brexit of a 2017 season thus far, nabbing only the 500-level Dubai championship. He was expected to turn things around on grass, but was unable to defend at Queen's, falling in the first round to No. 90-ranked Jordan Thompson.

What's more, Murray pulled out of two scheduled exhibition matches this week, citing a sore hip. If his downfall continues, and he fails to defend his Wimbledon points, his perch atop the men's rankings will be in jeopardy.

Rafael Nadal: La Decimator

Posing a major threat is two-time Wimbledon champion Nadal, who resembled the 2008 version of himself in laying waste to the opposition during this year's clay-court action.

During last year's French Open, Nadal was spotted vacationing with a cast on his playing wrist. He later skipped the entire grass season before being selective with his tournaments for the remainder of 2016. Like Federer, many wondered if he'd ever again seriously threaten the best of the best.

The rest and relaxation agreed with him, however, as he entered 2017 in vintage form. Nadal arrives at Wimbledon with four titles to his name this year, including completing La Decima in Monte Carlo, Barcelona, and the French Open.

Although he opted out of a grass-court tuneup, Nadal is riding a wave of confidence and the comfort of not having any Wimbledon points to defend.

Novak Djokovic: Titan to Titanic

Oh, how the mighty has fallen.

Twelve months ago, it seemed like the ATP was Djokovic's world and his opponents were just living in it. But after capturing that elusive career Grand Slam, the Serbian's only other success in 2016 was in Toronto, succumbing to Wawrinka at the US Open and Murray at the ATP Finals.

His 2017 got off to a promising start when he claimed the 250-level Qatar Open in January, but he's been unremarkable since.

Djokovic, with his lowest world ranking since 2009, enters Wimbledon with no official coaching team and the recent admission he could consider taking a break from tennis. The tide may be beginning to turn, though, as he finds himself in Saturday's Eastbourne finals.

The three-time Wimbledon champ hasn't gone a calendar year without winning a Slam since 2010, but he's on shaky footing.

Roger Federer: Betterer (foreverer)

Retirement?

That question was posed to Federer after he pulled out of the 2016 French Open, his first absence from the major since his 1999 debut. It was reiterated after his semifinal loss to Milos Raonic at Wimbledon, his final appearance of 2016 and the start of his tennis hiatus.

Retire he did not, returning with a bang in claiming the 2017 Australian Open, which he followed up with the double sunshine titles to end the season's first quarter. Judiciously skipping the entire clay-court season to recuperate for grass, his unexpected resurgence in 2017, and Federer being Federer, has him the favorite to win Wimbledon for an eighth time.

After finishing last year ranked No. 16, Federer enters London toting his ninth Halle title and, as the No. 3 seed, has shelved those pesky retirement questions.

Stan Wawrinka: Top underdog

With Djokovic and Murray at each other's throats for the better part of 2016, no one was batting an eye at Wawrinka.

When he found himself in the US Open final against Djokovic in September, it was assumed the then-reigning champ would claim the season's last Grand Slam. But Wawrinka improved his perfect major finals record to 3-0, stunning the Arthur Ashe crowd and the tennis tour.

That perfect record would be short-lived, though, as the Swiss again found himself in a championship round. This time it was with Nadal at the French Open, and we know how that ended.

Still, the outcome wasn't the result of Wawrinka's poor play. The No. 5 seed has proven he can raise his game on the big stage at any given moment, which is why Wimbledon 2017 is as winnable for him as it is for the rest of the top five.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)