Wimbledon Women’s Draw Preview
Justine Henin-Serena Williams Winner Will, Again, Take the Title
Given World No.1 and one-seed Justine Henin’s dominance of the Sony Ericsson women’s tennis tour this year, it would be easy to assume that she has Wimbledon locked up. Yet, an in-depth look at the road to the Wimbledon title shows that there are a few players who may have the key to Henin’s lock.
Serena Still Henin's Primary Opposition
The only credible challenge to Henin’s march to the quarterfinals is 15-seed Patty Schnyder who may have a bit of trouble getting past No.24 seed Alona Bondarenko in the third round. Once in the quarters, Henin’s light could begin to dim. Looming large will be seventh-seeded Serena Williams, whose game is more suited to the speedy grass courts than to the clay on which Henin beat her at Roland Garros in straight sets.
If Williams doesn’t make it to the quarters, it will likely be because she fell to hard-charging serve-volley player, No.27 seed Samantha Stosur in the third round, or power-hitter Daniela Hantuchova (seeded 10) in the fourth round. If Williams is close to being on form, neither of these players should pose a serious threat to her match-up with Henin in the quarters. It’s a well-worn record that perhaps has been played too much, but given the history between Williams and Henin, this match is a toss-up with the winner likely winning Wimbledon, as was the case with the French Open.
The Draw's Top-Half Threats
But there’s plenty of peril for the would-be-favorites in the draw’s top-half. No.3 seed Jelena Jankovic has been the second hottest player on the WTA Tour behind Henin, but she may be running out of gas. She appeared to be struggling with a thigh injury and faded in a three-set loss to No.8 seed Anna Chakvetadze (6-7, 6-3, 3-6) in the Ordina Open final in the Netherlands. Her Herculean schedule may have caught up with her and weakened her chances at Wimbledon.
Chakvetadze Challenging For Title
Chakvetadze has been playing well of late, making it to the quarters of the French and taking the title on grass at 's-Hertogenbosch. She is likely to face and squeak by No.31 seed Michella Krajicek, a talented 18-year-old who gave the 13th-seeded Dinara Safina all she could handle in a three-set loss at 's-Hertogenbosch (4-6 6-3 4-6), in the third round. Chavetadze will need all of her big guns in the fourth round where a potential match-up with former champion (1997) and No.9 seed Martina Hingis or No.20 seed Sybille Bammer, who barely lost to 11th-seed Nadia Petrova (7-6, 5-7, 4-6) on grass at Eastbourne this past week.
Hingis hasn’t shown that she can contend with the big-hitters and she has not played an event in five weeks, and Bammer should prevail if they meet in the third round as scheduled, before losing a tough one to Chakvetadze in the fourth round.
Jankovic Condition a Factor
If Jankovic isn’t too tired or too hurt, she should have little trouble reaching the fourth round and passing a potentially stiff test against Shahar Peer, seeded No.16. Peer has been solid all year, reaching the later rounds of several big events, including quarters of Eastbourne last week, before bowing to No.4 seed and finalist Amelie Mauresmo, 3-6, 4-6.
Winner of Henin-Williams Crowned Champion
The bottom line of the women’s top-half is that if Henin and Williams hold form, they will meet in the quarters, the winner will play Anna Chakvetadze in the semis, and move on to the final. What happens in the final will depend on what happens in the tough-to-predict bottom-half of draw.
