Wimbledon 2011 Preview: Williams/Fedal Showdown or Sharapova/Nole Dominance

Article first published as Wimbledon 2011 Preview: Williams/Fedal Showdown or Sharapova/Nole Dominance on Technorati.

This Monday (20th June) will see the start of one of the most awaited Grand Slam of the year-Wimbledon. Last Year Winners (Rafael Nadal/Serena Williams) are back in action this time and looks formidable again 

this year.

Amongst men, the top 3 seeds are the likely contenders. Nadal seems to be back at his best. He might have been fatigued after clinching his record-equaling sixth French Open trophy and an incredible seven successive finals on the ATP Tour. After his exit in the warm up tournament recently by Tsonga, he is still pretty much confident to play well and possibly add another jewel in his crown.

Another player equally hungry to prove his critics wrong once again will be Roger Federer. For him, the stakes on line will not only be to equal Pete Sampras’ record of seven Wimbledon titles, but also to end his Grand Slam drought since 2010 Australian Open. For him, it will be tough physically also as he recently pulled out of the warm up tournament citing soreness in the groin. Also the big question looming around him is whether he will be able to get past the fortress of Nadal this year?

Another top favorite will be second seed Novak Djokovic who after his amazing run this season lost his first match in the semifinals of French Open. He was invincible before French Open and seems to be physically prepared to take a winning shot. In my opinion, all will depend on his mental toughness and how ready he is to handle pressure at key moments. If he can overcome this barrier, he will be someone difficult to stop even by FEDAL.

There are other players too particularly Andy Murray who might have the highest chance after the top three, but it seems unlikely with the form of the above three that he will have a chance to win his first major Grand Slam. It is a bit unfortunate, as a player with his caliber truly deserves a grand slam title. He will have to build upon his game physically and mentally to break into the Fedal and Djokovich Zone. (Probably something like what Djokovich did in the past year to enter in the Fedal Zone)

In the Women’s section, the good news seems to be the return of the Williams sisters. But with Clijsters pulling out of Wimbledon, the only closest threat seems to come from the French Open Champion Li Na and Maria Sharapova.

Although the Williams sisters will be out of match practice, it will still be interesting to see their form and fitness. Serena in the past has always been a main event player and has had very less match practice even when she was fit. Still she has been able to win 13 Grand Slams ranking herself fourth in Grand Slam women's singles titles won during the open era. Venus will be close on heels of her sister on her favorite surface where she has won 5 times already with Serena close behind at 4. This goes on to show the extraordinary dominance of these two players over the past decade on this surface.

World Number 1, Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki and Maria Sharapova could be in the list. But I would tend more towards Sharapova who seems to be in striking form reaching to the semifinals of French Open. If only she can control her service and unforced errors, she will be a force to reckon with.

All in All, Women’s Draw will be wide open this year. In men’s draw, it would be intriguing to see who emerges out on top. Watching top 4 seeds, if they reach to the semifinals just as in French open, will be a mouthwatering prospect in Wimbledon and it would be fascinating to see them battle it out. All in all, it will all be dependent on who is mentally and physically tough enough to take it to the next level and clinch the coveted Wimbledon trophy.

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