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THE MEN
Roger Federer: Despite loss to Nadal in Paris, he’s cocksure of his abilities and is as heavy a favorite to three-peat as Sampras was in his prime.
Lleyton Hewitt: Cracked rib or not, the ‘02 champ is murderous returning serve on turf.
Andy Roddick: He’s slumping, but with a heater like his, ‘04 finalist could get locked in on his serve and bomb his way deep. But he better firm up his transition game.
Tim Henman: Never? Come now. If he avoids Federer and Hewitt, the classic serve and volleyer has the style to take down anyone - including himself.
Mario Ancic: Croatian serve-and-volleyer is due for huge breakout here. He’s maturing, which means a run to the final isn’t out of the question.
Richard Gasquet: Remarkably talented French 18-year-old has terrific touch at the net and an underrated serve. Still too young to win it all, but will charge hard into the second week.
Sebastian Grosjean: Two-time semifinalist has the touch, the guile and the speed to return to the final four again.
Ivan Ljubicic: Not a great volleyer, but with his huge serve and firm groundies, Croatian Yankee killeris a substantial threat.
Taylor Dent: Hasn’t played much as of late because an ankle injury, but is a hard charger.
Rafael Nadal: The burner’s style doesn’t fit the surface but with that much talent, the semis are not out of the question with a good draw.
Darkhorses: Andre Agassi could make a run if his back stays healthy,as could the grass-hating Marat Safin, big- serving Joachim Johannson and and Tommy Haas, and the always cagey David Nalbandian.
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THE Women
Maria Sharapova: Big serve, bigger returns, whizzing groundies and steely determination make this global brand the favorite to repeat. But her confidence was shaken in Paris and she has to re-load.
Lindsay Davenport: ‘99 champ has been remarkably consistent during the past year and has all the tools to win her second crown. But you have to wonder why she’s without a Salm in the past five years.
Justine Henin-Hardenne: If she’s not tapped out after Paris, the fierce belgian can volley and run around with the best of them. Put is she physically up to the six weeks of hell that winning RG and Wimby back to back requires?
Serena Williams: Suspect conditioning and rust could be major factor, but Aussie Open champ will likely put aside Hollywood and battle hard here for her third crown.
Amelie Mauresmo: Should have reached final last year. In fact, Frenchwoman (who faltered badly again at RG) should have reached a number of Slam finals before nerves got the better of her.
Kim Clijsters: Not a classic grass-courter, but has shortened her strokes a bit, can volley and her serve is improving. Plus, she couldn’t have liked watching Henin win her fourth Slam while she still has none.
Svetlana Kuznetsova: If she forgets her RG choke, could be a demon at the net. But that’s doubtful.
Mary Pierce: At 30, almost as a good a volleyer as she is a return of server. A darkhorse for sure, but can’t be ignored.
Venus Williams: After her dreary Paris disaster, another run to the title seems absurd, but she’s more familiar with the surface than most in the field.
Nadia Petrova: Excellent serve, good height, solid net game but still questionable as a closer.
Ana Ivanovic: 17-year-old Serb so talented and fearless that it’s hard to count her out on any surface.
Darkhorses: If she gets healthy, this is a prime surface for Aussie serve and volleyer Alica Molik. Elena Bovina can serve big, Tati Golovin likes the low bounce, Jelena Jankovic is due for a breakout Slam and Anastasia Mykina is bound to recover somewhere —
isn’t she?
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