The Championships at Wimbledon is the penultimate tournament in professional tennis just edging out the U.S. Open. I'd put the French and Australian right after that in order of importance of Slams. Every player in their childhood dreams wants to win at the All England Lawn and Tennis Club.
The grass is going to be drier as there hasn't been a lot of rain unusually in London and the forecast is for good weather during the fortnight. ESPN will televise with the women's final on Saturday July 14th at 8 AM CT and the men's final on Sunday, July 15th at 8 AM CT. ESPN, ESPN2 and the Tennis Channel will provide coverage throughout the 2 weeks every day.
Men
Everybody is looking at Roger Federer to capture his 9th Wimbledon championship and record 21st Slam in his illustrious tennis career which looks like it's going to keep cookin for a while with the kind of shape Fed keeps himself in. Key competitors are Rafa Nadal, who is coming off his 11th French Open title and 17th major, which is something in itself. Rafa chose not to play on the grass in preparation for the Championships, so his ability to win it all is a question mark, though the great Nadal won here in 2008 and 2010. Other key competitors are Marin Cilic, who was a finalist here in 2017, losing to the great Federer. He won the U.S. Open in 2014. Alexander Zverev, the 21 year old German, is a factor as well as he keeps challenging now for majors. Juan Martin del Potro is always a contender. His power game is perfect for the grass. And you can't count out Novak Djokovic. Djoker has won Wimbledon 3 times, in 2011, 2014 and 2015 and has 12 Grand Slam championships on his resume.
With that said, here's who I'll go with to the 36 year old from Bottmingen, Switzerland. Like the King of grass to get it done over the 31 year old Spaniard. I see it as a classic Federer-Nadal match, one that'll be remembered for a while.
Fed over Rafa 6-4, 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4
I think it'll be a classic Federer-Nadal match, one we'll remember for a while.
The King of Grass wins in a classic over Rafa (Photo, The Independent).
Rafa gives it a heroic fight (Photo, Tennis World USA).
Women
On the women's side, it's always interesting to see who is ready to play. Serena is still not in the greatest shape, so I see that hurting her when she gets to the fourth round. Both Petra Kvitova, the 28 year old from the Czech Republic who won here in 2011 and 2014, and 27 year old Caroline Wozniacki, who turns 28 during the fortnight on July 11th, are playing very good tennis right now, with Kvitova winning on the grass at Birmingham, England 3 weeks ago and Caroline winning in Eastbourne, England 2 weeks ago, so both are playing well on this surface. I'll go with the birthday girl to capture her first Wimbledon Championship and her second major in her career with the first coming at the Australian Open this year. I have Serena losing to Caroline in the quarters.
Wozniacki over Kvitova 4-6, 7-5, 8-6
This should also be a classic. Looking forward to an electric fortnight in London. Hope you enjoy it as well.
Wozniacki captures her second major this year (Photo, Australian Open).
Looking forward to an electric fortnight in London. Hope you enjoy it as well.