Who will win Wimbledon Championship 2010?
With the French Open over, tennis fans from all over the world are looking forwards to the Wimbledon Championship to start in a few days time. The question that everyone has in mind is that will this Grand Slam see a new king for 2010? Will it be Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal - a rivalry which has become ever-so monotonous in recent years?
Unlike the French Open, Wimbledon decides the fate of the world number 1 ranking. Not many have managed to hold onto the coveted position without holding the Wimbledon trophy. This is the place where Roger Federer dethroned Pete Sampras to make himself known to the world. So will someone stand out of the 128 competitors and repeat the feat against former champions Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal? It remains to be seen, but there are a few who have the potential to strike gold at the oldest Tennis competition that begins 21st June.
Since the retirement of Pete Sampras, only 3 players have managed to win the Championship besides six time winner and defending champion Roger Federer. These include the wild card entry Goran Ivanisevic, Lleyton Hewitt and Federer's nemesis Rafael Nadal.
During his 7 years as a professional tennis player, Serbia's Novak Djokovic has won just one Grand Slam, the Australian Open and that too happened in 2008. He has never reached the finals here but in order to do so, he has to work hard. His one and only semi-final appearance occurred in 2007. Djokovic, who is the third ranked tennis player in the world, would have to come as an improved player if he is to win the event.
No player from England or player has won here since Fred Perry in 1936 while the last time a British player reached the final was in 1939, when Bunny Austin lost to American Don Budge. If Andy Murray is to break the jinx, he has to use all his experience and succeed where Tim Henman couldn’t. A quarter-finalist from 2008 and a semi-finalist in 2009, Murray will be banking on Federer’s loss of form to reach the final and achieve the impossible.
Seventh ranked American Andy Roddick has three Wimbledon Championship finals – only to go on and lose to Federer on all occasions. He wasn't a strong rival in 2004 and 2005 but last year, he missed the trophy despite playing better tennis. Roddick could have been the best bet for 2010 but with luck and age not on his side; a Roddick win can only come if Federer and Nadal play bad or are knocked out before the grand finale.
In the women’s event, the Williams sisters have dominated Wimbledon like no one else. Venus Williams won in 2000 & 2001; Serena defeated Venus in 2002 and 2003 before she was dethroned by Maria Sharapova in 2004. Venus then won the next three Wimbledon titles, only missing it in 2006 when none of the sisters reached the final. Last year, in the all-Williams final, Serena came out as victorious, making Wimbledon their happy hunting ground. So what if they fail to reach the last 2 of Wimbledon, and falter like they did at Roland Garros. Who will win then?
Many viewers would put their money on Russia’s Elena Dementieva, who has reached the semi-finals in her last two attempts in Wimbledon, making her the most likely winner in case the Williams sisters fail. If she doesn’t make it to the final, it will either be due to the resurgence of Belgians Kim Clijsters or Justine Henin, both of whom have managed to make a successful comeback since attaining motherhood. Henin has reached the semi-finals on 5 different occasions at the same place, ending up as the loser in the grand finale twice. Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam she hasn't won, whereas Clijsters never made it to the final, despite reaching the semi-finals on two occasions.
All these players are good enough to win any tournament on their own, but if luck supports them, they might make a name for themselves at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, for the first time in Wimbledon history.
Tags: