Wimbledon 2018: How long will the Andy Murray hangover last at this year's Championships, plus other talking points

Four of the biggest talking points from this year's Championships

Wimbledon 2018 begins today with Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Caroline Wozniacki all in action at SW19.

However there will be no Andy Murray, who pulled out on the eve of the tournament.

Home hopes will instead rest squarely on the shoulders of Kyle Edmund and Johanna Konta, who are ranked 17th and 24th in the world respectively.

Here are four key talking points that will likely dominate the headlines over the next two weeks, as The Championships get underway.

How will the courts hold up?

Will the courts hold up? (Getty)

It is sizzling out there and the lush lawns look magnificent. But once the players are out in the heat of action the courts are bound to take a pounding. That could see the grass quickly wear away, and a number of players raised concerns only last year about their on-court safety in such conditions, with several taking falls.

Head groundsman Neil Stubley played down concerns on the eve of these championships and said the court situation was "nicely in control".

First test for Serena

Serena Williams returns (Reuters)

Arantxa Rus of Holland presents the first hurdle for seven-time champion Williams to overcome, and perhaps surprisingly that match missed out on a Centre Court billing.

Williams missed Wimbledon last year while pregnant but is back on a mission to reclaim the title she won 12 months previously when beating Angelique Kerber. She reached the fourth round of the recent French Open before pulling out of a hotly-anticipated clash with Maria Sharapova, and the 36-year-old American appears as driven as ever. Third on Court One, Williams will be out to impress.

Federer favourite

Federer defends his crown (Getty)

After landing his eighth Wimbledon title last year, Roger Federer is back for more and still relishing the challenge. He won on grass in Stuttgart last month before an expected run to the Halle title ended in disappointment with a hugely surprising loss to Borna Coric in the final.

He starts against Dusan Lajovic of Serbia on Centre Court, and nobody would be surprised if the Swiss master is back out there on finals weekend.

Post-Murray blues?

Murray has withdrawn from Wimbledon on the eve of the 2018 tournament (PA)

Will there be a Wimbledon hangover after the news of Andy Murray's withdrawal? Will 'Murray Mound' need to be renamed? Some will miss the two-time champion but Wimbledon is far bigger than any one player, and in British terms the spotlight in the men's singles turns to new national number one Kyle Edmund, who gets his campaign under way on Tuesday.

The anticipation for 23-year-old Edmund finally having a strong Wimbledon, after poor results here in the early years of his career, is growing. On the horizon, tantalisingly, is a possible third-round clash with Novak Djokovic on Saturday.