THE CHAMPIONSHIPS WIMBLEDON 2009 22 June-5 July

Men’s singles

Defending Champion Rafael Nadal’s withdrawal opens the path to the Final for the two Andys, Murray seeded #3 and Roddick #6 in the Men Singles.However the Argentine Juan Martin del Potro,seeded #5, who takes Nadal’s spot at the top of the draw could very well upset the Randys.

Ladies’ Singles

The chances for the Williams sisters to win the Championship improved greatly as Venus,seeded #3,is at the top of the draw while Serena,seeded #2 is at the bottom.They won 7 of the last 9 titles(Venus 5.Serena 2) and there could be a rematch of last year Final when Venus defeated Serena to claim her 5th title.

Top half of the draw

The #1 player of the world Dinara Safina could face #5 Svetlana Kuznetsova in QF who beat her 2 weeks ago in the final at Roland Garros in the French Gran Slam.Safina is looking for her first Gran Slam title.

Venus Williams will have to beat#13 Ana Ivanovic(Serbia) or the most improved Australian #18 Samantha Stosur on the 4th round but should not have much trouble to reach the QF where she could meet the Serb Jelena Jankovic,seeded #6.Jankovic hasn’t been playing well this season so Venus would potentially face Safina or Kuznetsova in the SF.

Bottom half

Serena Williams should take care of business up to the QF where she will have to deal with probably the #8 Victoria Azarenka (Belarus)or #10 Nadia Petrova (Russia) with the possibility of Maria Sharapova (seeded #24) playing only in her fourth tournament since her shoulder surgery.The Russian Vera Zvoraneva (#7) or Elena Dementieva seem the most likely to face Serena in the SF providing they avoid an upset against #14 Dominika Cibulkova (SF in Roland Garros) or the French Marion Bartoli (#12) if she regains her form of 2007 when she was runner up to Venus Williams.

A big wave of Eastern Europe players is dominating the Ladies’ tennis but I think the veterans Venus Williams,29 years old, and her sister Serena stil have enough talent and desire to take the Winbledon Title one more time.