Wimbledon 2013 Preview - Women's Competition

While the debate over who will be crowned Wimbledon champion in the men’s game is quite divided, the women’s competition is a bit more clear cut. Serena Williams’ track record at Wimbledon is healthy, winning five titles over the past 11 years. Once again, Serena goes into Wimbledon as the favourite and there are a few reasons why that is the case.

Experience no doubt plays a part as Serena, even in the years where she has not won the Wimbledon title, she has managed six last 16 performances. However, experience isn’t everything and a better judge of her prospects lie with the present. Since her comeback in 2011, Serena has gone onto reach the top of the women’s game once more winning Wimbledon and the US Open in 2012, and the French Open this year, as well. In addition to that, this year to date, Serena has picked up titles in Brisbane and Charleston as well as overcoming Maria Sharapova in Miami and Madrid and Victoria Azarenka in Rome. Against her nearest opponents, Serena has come out on top, often in straight set affairs. Furthermore, Serena has a playing style which suits all surfaces. Serena’s all round game, predominantly from the baseline allows Serena to take control of rallies early. Coupled with the power she puts behind her shots, more often than not, her opponents are on the back foot from the off.

The two players who I feel have an outside chance of defeating Serena Williams are Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova. Both are grand slam winners who have similar styles of aggressive baseline play. While both Azarenka and Sharapova have pace and quick footwork, Sharapova is more likely to go for the point deep into the court, while Azerenka will bide her time and pick the moment to convert. On paper however, the last time Sharapova overcame Serena Williams was in 2004. Azarenka meanwhile did defeat Serena in Doha earlier this year and will be looking for a repeat of that performance, should the two meet.

Other than Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova, other players to look out for in the draw would include last year’s finalist, Agnieszka Radwanska, fifth seed Sara Errani and 2011 champion, Petra Kvitova. Radwanska and Errani have some good form going into Wimbledon while Kvitova possesses the muscle both in serve and groundstroke to overpower an opponent on grass. With that said, I find it hard to make a case for any of the players mentioned here to reign superior over Serena Williams with regard to her current run of form and consistency.

With Venus ruled out through injury, the women’s doubles competition is more open than it has been in recent years. Top seeds, Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci of Italy have won all the other slams bar Wimbledon at some point during 2012 and 2013. With Serena and Venus Williams out of the picture, I reckon they will lift the title this time around.

Image courtesy of: Katherine Shann