Wimbledon - Women's contenders

Eurosport - Mon, 22 Jun 07:05:00 2009

A look at the strengths and weaknesses of the leading contenders for the women's title at Wimbledon which begins on Monday (prefix number denotes seeding).

TENNIS 2008 - Venus Williams at Wimbledon - 0

3-Venus Williams (US)

The defending champion (pictured) will be hard to stop at the tournament that really sparks her A-game. She did not drop a set last year on the way to her fifth Wimbledon singles title, dominating opponents with the sheer force of her game. First serve is a huge weapon on grass while her baseline game keeps opponents on the back foot. Moves like a gazelle, although mistakes can flow from her forehand on off-days.

2-Serena Williams (US)

The twice former champion never lacks self-belief and inexperienced opponents can be overawed by her intimidatory demeanour on court. Like her sister she can call on considerable serving firepower and is lethal off the ground when anything drops short. Began the year in style by winning the Australian Open, her 10th grand slam title but has only made one final since. Endured a poor claycourt season with successive opening match defeats in Marbella, Rome and Madrid but Wimbledon's grass suits her game perfectly.

5-Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia)

A chat with Roger Federer at last year's Olympics seems to have worked wonders for Kuznetsova who has rediscovered her motivation. A great mover, she is one of the best servers in the women's game and can volley too, although she does not venture forward as often as she should. Her topspin forehand was perfect for French clay but not so suited to Wimbledon lawns where she has yet to get beyond the quarter-finals.

4-Elena Dementieva (Russia)

A great ball striker whose precision groundstrokes can do real damage as she proved last year at Wimbledon by reaching the semi-finals and then going on to win the Olympic gold in Beijing. Her serve used to be a weakness but has improved dramatically. Another great Russian athlete.

1-Dinara Safina (Russia)

Like her brother she wears her heart firmly on her sleeve and there is usually no doubt as to what kind of mood she is in. A powerful baseliner, if rather one-dimensional, consistency is the key to her game. She is a ferocious competitor although her movement can still be exposed by clever opponents. Will need her very best tennis to win her first Grand Slam title here.

6-Jelena Jankovic (Serbia)

One of the best retrievers in the game and has a great tennis brain. What she lacks in power she more than makes up for with accuracy, although her game can be passive at times. Admitted this week that she is struggling for motivation so not many will be backing her.

13-Ana Ivanovic (Serbia)

Hard to say whether the 2008 French Open champion is experiencing a blip or whether her game is in terminal decline. Has not won a title this year and her hard-hitting game continues to look fragile.

9-Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark)

A big year for the 18-year-old Dane who has produced consistently good results to break into the top-10 for the first time. Has an exciting game with a sizzling double-handed backhand. A relative rookie on grass but tipped by none other than Wimbledon great Martina Navratilova as a dark horse.

Reuters

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  1. MY GIRLS SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED.. I try quoting it but­ nobody give a damn to mention..I need boasters for my­ girls....... am giving you a bait but nobody dares to­ catch ......common my girls......let=s do it though I­ know its impossible but no choice you are my girl...or­ else I-d rather close my mouth and stop writing­ here...am that frustrated but i still support MY­ GIRLS...though i know they are WEAKLINGS///.!!!­ LOL!!!!!!!

    From JOMA, on Mon 22 Jun 12:50PM

  2. It would be more interesting to see maybe one of the­ William sisters against someone else for a change, I­ wish Laura Robson good luck in her match against­ Daniella. Laura may have a real chance if the crowd get­ behind her.

    From Debbie P, on Mon 22 Jun 11:23AM

  3. Who gives a sh it who wins it,and who wants to listen­ to grunting squealing pigs,sounds like they are being­ slaughtered,we can live in hope.Equal pay for this­ shower of sh it,a joke.

    From universe0016, on Sun 21 Jun 10:35AM
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Finally i can feel it , i can smell it " the ALL­ WILLIAMS FINAL" thank god , the horrible Clay­ season has finished to an end.
    we all know that­ Ivanovic and JJ and Sharapova deserve to win A new GS­ but, `till now they r still suffering from certain­ problems , till the back on track woman tennis will be­ lame . So at the present moment the true Contenders the­ true best 2 players in the world .Despite of what­ Safina does or says are the williams.
    Serena and Venus­ hope to See wonderful battles played by u 2 in the­ Final

    From abdurrazeg a, on Sat 20 Jun 10:12PM

  5. #21, good foresight on power game. the women's draw­ seeing the williamses on opposite side makes them play­ the game better. Venus V Serena at final. who ever wins­ goodluck..

    From Augustine A, on Sat 20 Jun 9:09PM

  6. if you look at the list of players that have defeated­ the Williams sisters you will noticed they played the­ power game go and look at matches that Justin Henin­ played and defeated the Williams sisters you will see­ she played the power game, go and watch the match that­ Kuznetsova played against Serena at the just concluded­ Roland Garos you will see she had to play the power­ game to beat the Williams sisters and you can see she­ used the same tactics to be able to defeat Safina at­ the final, players like Sharapova are known today­ because they all grew up learning to play the game the­ way the Williams sisters did that was why she was able­ to defeat Serena in there first meeting go back and­ listen to what she said when she defeated serena, Anna­ Ivanovic and Jelena have not found there game because­ they have refused to play the power game, go and watch­ Safina's game you will see she played the power­ game all the way to the RG final but lost concentration­ when she saw her opponent playing the same power game.­ Where is Nadal today it is because he plays Power­ Tennis, to be in the top ten ladies tennis player you­ must be ready to play the power game, if you don't­ know the game just keep quite. The Williams sisters­ have a weak point and it is play the power game that­ they play and you can beat them if you can concentrate­ and play it for a long time. TAKE NOTE.

    From stine147, on Sat 20 Jun 7:57PM

  7. I think its gonna be an all- Williams final again.­ Either that or at least one of them makes it far.­ I'm rooting for Venus, Elena, Azarenka and Rezanno,­ I hope they all make it far. Can't see Safina­ winning this.

    From Bry A, on Sat 20 Jun 7:53PM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    HOPE CAROLINE IS OUT IN THE FIFRST ROUND AT­ WIMBLEDON???????GO SAFINA? ???????

    From tdeddy, on Sat 20 Jun 7:39PM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I would like to comment, but alas i fear i will be­ lambasted for not supporting the williams sisters; are­ all 'tennis people' bullies? Oh what the hey,­ wouldn't it be such a shot in the arm for­ women's tennis if Maria Sharapova won (hardly­ likely though, it's a shame that).

    From cameron w, on Sat 20 Jun 6:38PM

  10. sorry falks, I wanted to say "Sisters Williams are­ figting so H.A.R.D" .. don`t know hat happened­ with this bot ?
    it was not an insult ?!

    From Igor K, on Sat 20 Jun 6:30PM

  11. For me Wozniacki is a real deal now ! Azarenka is also­ on fire.. Safina.. will see what she can do on grass­ ?!
    Sisters Williams, even they are fighting so @#$%­ Wimledon always, they are not that good anymore, soory­ ! ..
    My girls JJ and Ana are in deep­ crisis..
    Dementieva I hope will make something big, she­ disserves as really intelligent player !
    I doubt­ Sharapova can shine like she did.. but I wish her well­ !

    From Igor K, on Sat 20 Jun 6:22PM

  12. If venus is at her best then she will win. Grass and­ Venus was like clay with Henin. Venus does though make­ way too many mistakes espeically of forehand and in­ early rounds too but i think her draw is good for her­ and i hope she will do it.

    From lopezmaxi92, on Sat 20 Jun 5:41PM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Where are Azarenka and Sharapova in this list?
    If they­ both are fit(especially Azarenka with her right hip­ strain)and play at their best they can beat everyone,­ handily.
    Does anyone know if Azarenka is healed from­ the hip injury?

    From Pieter D, on Sat 20 Jun 4:10PM

  14. Where are Maria Sharapova and Vera Zvonarëva in this­ list??

    From Andrew Broad, on Sat 20 Jun 3:35PM

  15. would like to see Vika Kuzzie Ana JJ Elena Amelie and­ Venus do well at wimbledon.Good luck to all of them.

    From AJ, on Sat 20 Jun 3:01PM

  16. Willams sisters are strong, but I would also like to­ see a surprise... could be Sharapova's comeback or­ rising star Wozniacki.

    From arqrv, on Sat 20 Jun 2:19PM

  17. i think sabine and vika can cause shockwaves. I know­ vika will be ready but the real talent with the big­ game to beat venus is sabine but one cannot be sure­ that her recent complete loss of form will abate. my­ heart is with venus but realistically i think it will­ be beyond her, so it will be up to serena to contain­ the determined challenge from vika or sabine IMHO.

    From sanchez.santos, on Sat 20 Jun 2:15PM

  18. I forgot Azarenka..she wont win but if she is fit,she­ can get far

    From ivanajaa, on Sat 20 Jun 1:15PM

  19. There is no doubt this is another Williamses final. The­ draws speaks for themselves..

    From Augustine A, on Sat 20 Jun 1:03PM

  20. Come on Venus I am routing for you, sorry Serena but I­ hate to see you two sisters fighting it out, it almost­ breaks my heart, so with that in mind, Venus to go all­ the way and not meet her sister at all in the­ championships.....

    From HONEY B, on Sat 20 Jun 12:34PM
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