Venus knuckling down for a 5th title: By far the most accomplished Wimbledon winner this era, Venus Williams comes in as one of the big favorites. Her stunning run of last year which saw her scrap through the early rounds and rocket through Maria Sharapova, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Ana Ivanovic and Marion Bartoli has once again reminded us that Venus can win Wimbledon from any angle. Her early exit in this year’s French Open only serves as motivation for Wimbledon. Technically, she is supreme in London as her swift ground strokes and dominating serve excel on the grass and seem unmatchable

Located in the bottom half of the draw, the American will face British talent Naomi Cavaday in the first round. Jelena Jankovic could meet her in the QF with a mouth-watering SF against Sharapova. Venus’s aim will be to cut out her errors and find her best form – if she can’t do that it will depend on her mentality to pull her through matches until she does.

Serena Williams on a mission: At one point of the season Serena’s tennis was the best in the world as she tallied up a three-tournament run, which saw her beat the likes of Justine Henin, Sharapova and sister Venus. Despite this, she has yet to show her best form in the Grand Slams, with a disappointing QF performance in Australia and an early downfall in Paris. So it really does come down to her concentration and this Wimbledon she will be aiming to rekindle her best form. At the top of her game she seems unstoppable by anyone – with the exception of her sister. With consecutive title runs in 2002 and 2003, Serena has the experience and motivation to take a third this year

The eight-time Grand Slam champion will have a tough first-round match against Kaia Kanepi. The likes of Kuznetsova in the ora Ivanovic in the SF will surely test her to the full.    

Maria Sharapova has got what it takes: Her best qualities have shone yet again with stunning form at the Australian Open and mental toughness at the French. Her supreme status was born at Wimbledon in 2004 at the delicate age of 17. Maria’s mentality has grown since then and she has added two more Grand Slam titles. The Russian’s serve and her awesome backhands and forehands are ideal for grass. She definitely has all the range to take her second Wimbledon title here, however her big weakness seems to be the Williams sisters. At their best they have shown they are supreme on this surface and this very fact leaves Maria liable to being blown away. Bitter memories of straight-set loses to Venus in 2005 and 2007 will play a factor if she happens to face either of them.

The Russian will play Stephanie Foretz in the first round and has Elena Dementieva lurking in her section of the draw, Venus Williams could meet her in the SF which would look dim for Maria as Venus has thrashed her at Wimbledon, and at that stage of the competition Venus would surely have found winning form.

No way but up for Ana Ivanovic: The Serbian has just claimed her first Grand Slam in Paris and has the drive to produce her best form for Wimbledon. Last year’s run will give her confidence as she made it deep into the second week before a crushing defeat to Venus. Although she has nowhere near the Wimbledon experience of the Williams sisters or Sharapova, she is the No.1 seed and will surely cope with that pressure well. Ivanovic’s bludgeoning shots dictate her game on grass and her uncanny ability to hit winners all over the court looks promising for a good run here.

The Serbian hotshot will face Rossana De Los Rios in the first round. Her main competitor in her half is Serena Williams as the two could clash in the SF.

Jelena Jankovic and the rest: Jelena’s fatal flaw seems to be her habit of saving her best tennis for tour events rather then Grand Slams. Her early Wimbledon exit last year came down to fatigue of playing too many low-tier tournaments and she has yet to get to the final of any Slam. However her game pans out well on grass and she comes in as the No.2 seed.

Also, No.5 seed Dementieva has found awesome form which can see her through to the second week with few problems. Kuznetsova may not be the best grass court player but with all the uncertainties surrounding Serena, the draw may pan out very well for the Russian. No.8 seed Anna Chakvetadze’s chances are looking dim as she has been struggling as of late, and she could face Ivanovic in the QF if she gets there.

The Williams sisters will be eager to pass their early round vulnerabilities as the Serbians will gear up their grass court games. Sharapova will look to start off with a flourish of stunning form from the word go, as will the other top Russians. The Wimbledon fortnight could go in so many directions – with nothing cut and dried, it may turn out to be the best one in years.

For more information on Wmbledon and more visit my tennis website, www.ashaffi.page.tl