Borna Coric has already tasted victory over Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray

The 2015 Wimbledon Championship is nearly upon us and as usual the likes of Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer are favourites to win the men's tournament alongside home favourite Andy Murray, while Serena Williams is the strong contender for the women's.

While they are the players of the here and now, what about the future?

Sportsmail profiles six starlets, Thanasi Kokkinakis, Borna Coric, Alex Zverev, Hyeon Chung, Elias Ymer and Kyle Edmund, who could shake up the men's draw come Monday.

Six young rising male players to watch at this summer's Wimbledon (from left to right) Thanasi Kokkinakis, Borna Coric, Alex Zverev, Hyeon Chung, Elias Ymer and Kyle Edmund

THANASI KOKKINAKIS (AUSTRALIA)

Age: 19, Born: Adelaide, World Ranking: 69

Like many of the new wave of Australian players, Kokkinakis is the son of immigrants, with his parents having moved from Greece. Unusually, he began playing on grass at an early age, going every Saturday to courts in Adelaide that stand in the shadow of its famous cricket Oval.

While laid back, some observers believe he may have a better future than his established compatriot Nick Kyrgios, with whom he won the Wimbledon junior doubles title in 2013.

Australia's Thanasi Kokkinakis broke into the top 100 year and has won at the Australian and French Open

He broke into the top 100 this year, won a round at the Australian Open, a live Davis Cup rubber against the Czech Republic and, with Borna Coric, became the first teenager in eight years to make the French Open third round.

Asked to pick three words to describe Wimbledon he says: ‘Prestigious. Tradition. Different.’

Did you know? Kokkinakis has been taken under the wing of Andy Murray after the two of them struck up a friendship, and they are regular practice partners.

Kokkinakis has developed a close friendship with Andy Murray - with the pair regular practice partners

BORNA CORIC (CROATIA)

Age: 18, Born: Zagreb, Rank: 39

The feisty baseliner from Croatia has already gained a reputation as a giant-slayer, having collected the scalps of Rafael Nadal in Basle last year and Andy Murray in Dubai in February, when he reached the semi-finals. He was named Association of Tennis Professionals’ Star of Tomorrow at the end of 2014.

Coric has a British connection as he spent several years training with English coach Ryan Jones at the Virgin Centre in Northwood, Middlesex, before they split last year.

At 18-years-old, Borna Coric has already collected the scalps of Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray in his career

Only just over 6ft, he has an excellent all-round game and has already won more than $600,000 (around £380,000) in prize money. He has a combative style, as you would expect from a boxing devotee. His sporting hero is Mike Tyson. ‘I spar as part of my training. It’s my favourite sport, in fact a lot of tennis players like boxing maybe because there are similarities.’

Did you know? His most treasured possession is his dog Ziko, an 11 year-old Pug.

Standing at just over 6ft, the 18-year-old's combative style is mixed with an excellent all-round game

ALEX ZVEREV (GERMANY)

Age: 18, Born: Hamburg, Rank: 76

Commonly known as ‘Sascha’, Zverev is the great hope of German tennis having been born into a family steeped in the game.

His father Alexander played Davis Cup for the Soviet Union before emigrating to Germany and his elder brother Mischa has been in the world’s top 100. Zverev is also trained by Jez Green, who used to work for Andy Murray.

18-year-old Alex Zverev is the great hope of tennis in Germany with his exciting all-court game

Zverev enjoyed a stellar junior career and with an exciting all-court game is reckoned by some to be the best of the new wave.

‘I like grass and what I really look forward to about Wimbledon is being in a place where you can feel so much history,’ he says. ‘I am very interested in the history of the game.’

Did you know? Despite coming from a tennis family Zverev was a keen hockey player when younger. Although he is from the north, he supports Bayern Munich.

Like Coric, Zverev has links to Murray - with the German trained by his former fitness guru Jez Green

HYEON CHUNG (KOREA)

Age: 19, Born: Suwon, Rank: 78

The highly promising Korean comes from a country with more golf heritage than tennis, but he has raced up the rankings.

Much of his tennis development was at the IMG (Nick Bollettieri) Academy in Florida, but he has shown plenty of potential on grass, having been runner-up in the Wimbledon junior event in 2013.

Korea's Hyeon Chung is comfortable on grass, having been runner-up in the Wimbledon junior event in 2013

Chung is unusual on the tennis tour in that he speaks little English. He has yet to win a match in a Grand Slam main draw but that is likely to change quickly with his slightly unorthodox groundstrokes.

Did you know? Chung took up tennis originally because his parents were told it would help his eyesight, and he still wears glasses.

The 19-year-old and world No 78's slightly unorthodox groundstrokes cause his opponents unusual problems

ELIAS YMER (SWEDEN)

Age: 19, Born: Stockholm, Rank: 133

A Swede of Ethiopian descent, Ymer is seen as a potential answer to the tennis prayers of a country which has such a rich history in the game but has fallen on hard times.

His rise this year has seen him come through qualifying at both the Australian Open and French Open and reach the third round proper of the ATP Barcelona Open.

Earlier this month he won his first Challenger title in Italy on clay.

Sweden's Elias Ymer could be the answer to restore Sweden's standing among the tennis world as a force

Despite that being a preferred surface he is captivated by grass and the idea of playing at Wimbledon.

‘As a kid the only day of the summer when I was not expected to practise was the Sunday of the Wimbledon final, the family would sit round the television and watch it. It’s the best tournament, everyone dreams of winning it.’

Did you know? Ymer’s father Jiri was a near international standard 10,000m runner.

Earlier this month the world No 133 won his first Challenger title in Italy on clay

KYLE EDMUND (GREAT BRITAIN)

Age: 20, Born: Johannesburg, Rank: 101

Thankfully there is some British representation in this group in the form of the blond British No 3 from Yorkshire. Edmund’s rise has been that of the steady improver rather than the meteoric young star but he has a big forehand and much-improved serve.

A polite and thoughtful type with a mature work ethic, his best results have come at Challenger level, and he is starting to pick up top-100 scalps. He is one of the few survivors from what looked like a promising batch of Great Britain contemporaries.

Great Britain's Kyle Edmund will have home support at Wimbledon as he looks to use his powerful forehand

The French Open was a breakthrough as he won his first round against Frenchman Stephane Robert, winning his first five-set match in the face of a partisan crowd.

Edmund, a self-confessed petrolhead who loves fast cars and motorbikes, has had a stomach muscle injury but Wimbledon is not unfamiliar territory. He has already competed there twice in the main draw.

Did you know? Edmund was born in Johannesburg and moved to Liverpool as an infant before the family headed to Beverley. That explains his passion for Liverpool FC.

The 20-year-old's appearance at Wimbledon will be his third-time in the main draw of the grass court major