Wimbledon - Reed: Serena is world's best player

Eurosport - Wed, 01 Jul 12:59:00 2009

Eurosport-Yahoo! blogger Simon Reed believes that Serena Williams is the best player in the world and sees her as the favourite for the Wimbledon title.

TENNIS 2009 Wimbledon Serena Williams - 0

Serena is playing some of the best tennis I've seen her play for a couple of years, in particular the first set against Victoria Azarenka in their quarter-final.

I think that Serena is the best player in the world by some way, but there is also something about grass that seems to bring the best out of Venus.

She is ideally suited to grass, and it's fantastic to watch. Her movement around the court is so good that she's on to everything quickly so she forces errors from her opponents, and her ground-strokes are consistently of high quality. She's just amazingly tough to beat.

Grass is so different to any other surface. Venus just has the knack for grass. Serena has the knack for everything, and when she's on her game it's just so difficult for the others.

I think that another final between the two Williams sisters is almost inevitable, given the way things have gone so far.

Agnieszka Radwanska went into her match against Venus comfortably the underdog as Venus beat her in Italy just a couple of months ago.

Venus moves so much better on grass than Dinara Safina, who she meets in the semi-finals, and I'd be surprised if the world number one even takes a set off her.

It seems as though Elena Dementieva is once again destined to be the bridesmaid and not the bride this year. The Russian just seems to lack the nerve for the big occasion, and a semi-final against Serena is certainly one of those.

Perhaps she will go into the match feeling that she has got nothing to lose, as Serena has the head-to-head advantage over her, although she did lose to Dementieva in the Olympic Games quarter-finals, a tournament the Russian went on to win. But the way Serena played today, she is the overwhelming favourite to win again.

I think Roger Federer could be run close by Ivo Karlovic on Centre Court when the men's quarter-finals get underway on Wednesday. Federer will really have to be on his game as the big-serving Croat will be tough even for the five-times champion to break. I can see a lot of tie-breaks in that match, and if Karlovic can take one of those breakers then he could give Federer a scare. It will be a tough match for Federer, but I can see him winning in four sets.

I think Andy Murray's reaction following his dramatic five-set fourth round win over Stanislas Wawrinka could go one of two ways; The late finish could prove to be a draining experience for him, both emotionally and physically, but on the other hand he tested himself when he wasn't playing brilliantly, and I thought there would be a moment or two in this tournament when Murray would struggle to find his form and put a lot of pressure on himself, but I thought he came through really well.

I think Murray will beat Juan Carlos Ferrero, who I don't think has the kind of game that will worry him. The kind of players who give Murray trouble are the ones who can really belt the ball at him, and Ferrero is not of that type. He's a very experienced player, he's a very thoughtful player, but I still see Murray winning, though he may drop a set.

Simon Reed / Eurosport

Comment 69 - 88 of 108

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  1. It is all about muscles and power . No more no less .­ The woman who hits the ball the hardest , serves the­ hardest and returns the hardest wins . End of­ discussion !!

    From Tim, on Wed 1 Jul 11:36AM

  2. Wow controversial. Reed you state the bleeding obvious­ mate.

    From Michael, on Wed 1 Jul 11:23AM
  3. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    This Reed fellow is a total clown,please stop writing­ for Eurosport,you talk complete and utter rubbish and­ are usually so so wrong,the other day you said that­ Djokovic isnt good enough to win Wimbledon,you are­ afool,the day after he won in an easy 3 sets,stop­ making stupid predictions,I bet against you every time­ and win every time,so I definitely wont be betting on­ Serena!!!!!!!

    From Prague H, on Wed 1 Jul 11:15AM

  4. funny stuff told by kevin at msg 51

    From Epic M, on Wed 1 Jul 11:05AM
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I met a man who are­ 40­ now on a dating service. he wants to see me and­ even­ have fun with me. but i am 18 now. I don't­ know­ whether i should go to see him. he ever said to­ me that­ all girls on that site ~~ sug ar match­ maker,com~~ are­ seeking fun.. why am not I?

    From sjifguerjg98djio, on Wed 1 Jul 10:36AM

  6. Serena and her sister Venus have the bodies of men,­ they are the strongest women in sports. I would go as­ far to say without a doubt either one of them would­ destroy Murray! Michael C.

    From Michael C, on Wed 1 Jul 10:35AM

  7. MURRAY WILL WIN A SLAM . . . .

    From JEEMS, on Wed 1 Jul 10:20AM

  8. i just wish the williams the best.hope they go on to­ meet in the final

    From Kester, on Wed 1 Jul 10:14AM

  9. Just give me any of the Williams sisters and I am done!

    From Okk, on Wed 1 Jul 9:34AM

  10. For the first time in a while i totally agree with­ Reed, but not to say she has not completly out classed­ her opponents in a while the Aus open final in January­ where she just made Safina look and feel like a ball­ boy, again when at the Us open 08 from first match to­ finals best match being against Venus in the semi's­ not dropping a set and to go even fursth beating­ Sharapova 07 Aus Open Final Serena can just bring it,­ she doesn't talk about it she si about it. ­ Azarenka is one of the few up and coming girls that i­ believe, not Radwanska but Azarenka and Wozniaki the­ rest for me will come and go. You could see the in the­ second set though Serena's serve dropped a bit her­ opponent upped her game many of Aza's error where­ not down the wrong choice but to over hitting by a­ small margin but also in the end after Serena was­ broken and she broke back she went up a another level­ one which Azarenka has not got which should come with­ experience.

    All the negativa rubbish is just that­ Serena has slams from single to doubles to mixed and­ almost evert trophy there is to have, The grand slams­ not in the calendar year but was the holder of all four­ at 1 time plus 2 double gold. she has a career record­ of 82% in single and 87% in doubles ranked number 4. ­ Let just no get into this because Serena doesn't­ even need to say uch because she just plays the new­ comers and the old timers and still wins, she not only­ has the power but the will power to win when its not­ going right we have all seem it none of these come­ today gone gone 2moro's have that.

    From janice m, on Wed 1 Jul 9:05AM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    i so would like Murray to loose- its complete nonsense­ how everyone is just talking and talking how good he­ is- maybe let him win a grand slam firstor some other­ big tournament!!! i think we are missing a point here-­ FERRERO, HAAS & HEWITT are through!!! They are­ showing great attitude, passion and amazing skills!­ Respect to them!

    From agne, on Wed 1 Jul 9:04AM

  12. Let's not talk about skin colour but tennis. The­ two Williams are really joy to watch on a goodday. They­ are still the best among the Russians.
    Anyway happy to­ be Dutch-Nigeria.
    Okwudilichukwu

    From Ike, on Wed 1 Jul 9:03AM

  13. I dunno, I'm leaning more towards Venus for my­ favourite, though it could go either way obviously. I­ think when both players are at their best, and­ especially on grass, then Venus will likely come out­ tops IMO. I just think Venus moves, serves and volleys­ a bit better on grass. Serena is more consistently­ better on other surfaces, though.

    From GanaM, on Wed 1 Jul 8:50AM

  14. Yes,Serena is a very good player. If she's the­ best, why doesn't she win more titles?!Also, she­ would gain more respect from the general public if she­ was more polite and kind about the other players! She­ was very rude about J. Henin when she was no1, and also­ about Safina! If she wants to be No 1 she needs to work­ for it, not just turn up when she feels like­ it!!
    Martin Wakeling.

    From wakelingsue1, on Wed 1 Jul 8:44AM

  15. i disagree. i'd say Venus is the best.

    From aleksicn93, on Wed 1 Jul 8:34AM

  16. I'm not a fan of her, but indeed Serena is the­ best!

    From Rossoblu, on Wed 1 Jul 8:29AM

  17. The writing on the wall is immaculately clear­ ....Serena Williams is a fierce gladiator. A healthy­ Azarenka VS a healthy Serena = mismatch! A comfortable­ straight set victory today is self evident. Anyone who­ has doubt about Serena's will, resolve and power­ play speak up now or forever put a plug in it! Good­ match, Serena! Next up...Elena Dementieva!

    From Chukwuemeka, on Wed 1 Jul 8:09AM

  18. Serena played one set like the best player in the­ world, but there are tough games ahead. And if one day­ one of the other players are in the zone, then it will­ ne tough.
    Same goes for Federer. Ivo is composed,­ experienced and a little slip from Federer will not­ pass by unpunished

    From Vassilis, on Wed 1 Jul 8:04AM

  19. Re. comment 49. Gorgeous??? This black must be colour­ blind. They are a couple of munters.

    From David, on Wed 1 Jul 7:35AM

  20. Where do they get Simon Reed from. Venus is favourite­ for Wimbledon in my book, though Serena is the better­ of the two ovcerall. Sack him

    From LD, on Wed 1 Jul 7:05AM
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