With the women's game I think we have a very open tournament with up to 12 players having a genuine chance of winning the title. I'm going to look at the main contenders that I would be looking for.
Maria Sharapova is the obvious choice and no wonder. She picked up her first French Open title and completed her career Grand Slam in doing so. Although she is playing some great tennis she wasn't tested in winning the French and I still haven't been convinced her second serve will hold up under pressure. It didn't here at Wimbledon last year. I actually don't think she will go too far in Wimbledon. I'm particularly liking her second round opponent Tsvetana Pironkova. Pironkova has been brilliant at the Championships the last two years in reaching the semi final and quarter finals beating Venus Williams both years. She recently destroyed Agnieszka Radwanska in her first grass court game of the year. It's the big hitters she enjoys playing as her results will show. She's beaten players such as Kerber, Petrova and Li this year which proves her talent. I think she can beat Sharapova and progress far in the tournament yet again. If Sharapova does win that one then I think she has the ability to go all the way provided she serves well.
Serena Williams is another obvious choice with her Wimbledon record. I think she's coming to the end of her career now and we won't see much more of her at the highest level. She seems to be losing the drive she had in previous years. Having said that she certainly cannot be ruled out. She has the best grass court game of them all and won't fear anyone. The problem will come from players who can get her moving as she won't have the fitness to go three gruelling sets with players for two weeks. After her shock first round exit at the French Open she will be out to prove she still has it here and we should see some of the best of Williams early on. Whether she can win the title remains to be seen.
Victoria Azarenka is coming in to this looking to add to her Australian Open title. She was disappointing in Paris but I'm sure we'll see a much improved performance from her. She is a very talented player that is hitting her best form this year. I've seen her crush the very best this year and I think if she plays at her best nobody will stop her winning the title here. She bullied Sharapova around the court already this year and has done the same to many other top players. I like her chances of at least making semi finals. Having won a Grand Slam already she won't let her nerves get the better of her and I wouldn't be surprised to see her win the tournament out.
Agnieszka Radwanska is another player looking at a long run here. She hasn't won a major yet and will fancy her chances of doing so this year. She plays good solid tennis and is able to hit with the very best. She needs to go a step further and beat some of the top players at the Grand Slams. If she gets a few big wins under her belt at this tournament she will have the self belief to win. I don't think she will win the tournament but she could go deep into the second week.
Defending champion Petra Kvitova has got real chances of winning the title again. She plays brilliantly here and on her game is a handful for anyone. Her serve is often the key and she wins a lot of cheap games with it. I don't see anyone that can safely believe they can beat her. She is my favourite to win the title as long as she keeps playing the sort of tennis we've come to expect from her.
The real dark horse for the title for me is Kim Clijsters. She is playing in her last Wimbledon and is looking to win it for the first time to complete her career slam. It would be nice to see her complete it as she has worked so hard at adapting to the modern game since her return and the amount of commitment she has put into the game. If she plays her best here then I think she can go all the way. At her best not many of the players today could keep up with her. I hope we see her give a very good showing in her final appearance here before retiring after the US Open this year.
Other players looking for a run here and very capable of it are Ana Ivanovic, Sam Stosur and Caroline Wozniacki and Na Li but I'm not sure how far any of those could go. Players who could actually go far are Angeliqe Kerber and Dominika Cibulkova who both have had good seasons but I don't know how could they can be on the grass. Kerber is in the top five players of the season and could be dangerous here too if she transfers that form over to the grass.
It's difficult to predict who will win with the high quality of players and the unpredictability of the women's game. I'm almost certain we will see upsets in the women's draw every day and that will add to the excitement of the fortnight. I look forward to seeing the draw unfold and just which players will emerge throughout the fortnight as the contenders and which players will surprise everyone in making the breakthrough.
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