Wimbledon is nearly here! And it is the tournament that as a
child got me hooked on tennis. It is the most important tournament in the UK
tennis calendar and it is really the only time in the UK when people are really
focused on tennis. This year’s tournament will hopefully showcase some of the emerging
tennis talent and however I do feel that experience of grand slams will help
win the tournament!
Men’s draw
I’m writing at the time when the men’s draw has not been
released so I am basing this review on my knowledge of the men’s game. If it
was obvious already the men to watch are Roger Federer, Rafal Nadal Andy Murray
and the world number one Novak Djokovic. The outsiders to the title would Jon
Wilfred Tsonga Juan Martin Del Petro. Time and time again the men’s draw
proves to be predictable and the top seed seem to move to each round quite
comfortably and on occasions they might be tested to five sets but experience
has tended to win the day.
My prediction
Okay as much I want Andy Murray to do well I truly believe
that his success will depend on his mental toughness and not worrying about the
public. I think if he worries less and his game comes together then he has got
every chance of winning this.
I think Roger Federer
will do well depending on the draw I suspect he will at least make it to the
quarter finals. After that it will all
depend on the shape that he is in and Roger did win a grass court tournament
last week so I suspect he is more than ready for the challenge.
Rafal Nadal didn’t do particularly well last year and he
lost fairly early it was probably because he had been carrying the injury. But
as a previous Wimbledon winner and my personal favourite I hope he does well.
Rafal makes tennis exciting and he doesn’t play text book tennis....and to me
his shot making is unique.
Tsonga is my outside bet for the title but after his below
par performance at French Open I saw him in different light. I hope he is now
put that shambolic performance behind him and is able to play well at
Wimbledon.
Women’s draw
Again this is being written before the draw is out so it
based entirely based entirely on my previous knowledge of the players. The
players to watch are Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova.
The women’s draw historically is a little less predictable the three women I
have previously mentioned are the ones I think have a real realistic chance to
win.
There are probably
two outsiders in Petra Kvitova and Svetlana Kuznetsova. Petra won the tournament
two years ago but has since failed to live up to expectations. Kuznetsova is a good
grass court player so depending on the draw she could do quite well.
Heather Watson is battling back to full fitness and I think her
goal should be realistically to make to third round now if she does get to the
third round maybe just maybe she could make it to the quarter finals but that
is a long shot.
I watched Laura Robson’s game on TV yesterday and she was
playing a qualifier at Eastbourne and she did seem herself and seemed very
nervous. Most of time she looked like she had a scowl on her face and I think
that now she playing in the women’s main draw the pressure of having to succeed
is probably getting to her and to be fair at Wimbledon it will only get worse
for her she needs to develop coping mechanism and quickly too.
My prediction
I suspect that Serena Williams (my personal favourite) will
retain her title but Maria and Victoria will both be tough challenges for her.
Maria beat Serena at Wimbledon for her very first title about nine years ago so
anything could happen....
Now please tell me what your predictions are....or if agree
or disagree with my predictions..
Looking forward to reading them J