Serena Williams in Wimbledon Final

Top-seed Justine Henin and Serena Williams are likely to have a rematch of their French Open quarterfinal, but this time Serena will be the victor and advance to finals.

There were no real surprises in the top-half of the women’s singles draw at Wimbledon through the first two rounds except for No.27 seed Samantha Stosur and No.20 seed Sybille Bammer bowing out in round-two. Those are only surprises because both have games that should have held up on grass.

Few Early Round Surprises

But Stosur ran into Milagros Sequera, a little pit bull of a player from Venezuela who gave Serena Williams a good fight in the second set of their second-round match at the French. Bammer crossed paths with unseeded Laura Granville (a former NCAA winner as a freshman in 2000), who made it to the fourth round in her first Wimbledon in 2002. Granville then went on to upset Martina Hingis in the third round, the first major upset of the women’s draw…at least on paper.

Third Round Producing Upsets

Looking at the draw through round-three, all the top names made it through with relative ease, but unexpected results are starting to escalate. No.31 seed Michaella Krajicek bounced No.8 seed Anna Chakvetadze in three sets. Chakvetadze had just beaten No.3 seed Jelena Jankovic to take the title at s'Hertogenbosch, and appeared poised for some noise at a slam. Surprise! Krajicek now gets a crack at Granville in round-four, and this ought to be a good one with Krajicek pulling out the win.

Bartoli Bounces Peer

I thought 16-seed Shahar Peer might do something as well, but she crumbled easily in a 6-3, 6-2 drubbing by Marion Bartoli, who has been making it to the semis on a regular basis over the past several weeks. Bartoli has Jankovic next, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the upset here.

Jankovic Out of Juice

I think Jankovic’s body is protesting the Wonder-Woman schedule she’s been playing and it’s ready for a lay-down. She struggled against Lucie Safarova, going three sets, and Bartoli will be looking for revenge for the whuppin’ Jankovic put on her at the French (1 and 1). I think the first high seed and big name goes out here in the fourth round.

Henin to Quarterfinals

Top-seeded Justine Henin should have no trouble with Patty Schnyder. Schnyder is a gamer, but doesn’t have the weapons to hassle Henin. Serena Williams has a potentially dangerous match-up with No.10 seed Daniela Hantuchova, but I think Serena has been sharpening her game playing dubs with sister Venus and will win this one. The fact that she’s beaten Hantuchova five of six times and the last three might factor in a tad. Of course, Serena doesn’t seem to do anything without some drama these days, so don’t be surprised if this thing goes three.

Serena Will Win Rematch

Henin and Serena should have a rematch of the French Open quarterfinal, only this time, I think Serena is going to stage the upset. Serena appears to be working on her return game playing doubles with sister Venus, and I think working the kinks out. I think she’ll bring too much pace for Henin on Grass and make it to the final regardless of whom she plays in the semis.