COVER STORY: JULY 2007
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ROGER FEDERER VS. RAFAEL NADAL REDUX?: Flash back to last year — Federer goes down in four sets to Nadal at the French and then whips him in four in the Wimbledon final. While a repeat of this scenario doesn’t seem extremely likely with Nadal’s unorthodox style on grass, given that they are once again way ahead of the pack when it comes to performing at a high level at this year’s sweaty-palms tournaments, you would have to say that a repeat of ‘06 is at least 50-50. Nadal leads their rivalry 8-4, but grass is a surface on which Fed has looked all but immortal. Nadal has more than proven that he can dominate on clay, but still has to show that he’s not a once-surface wonder at the Slams. Fed believes that Nadal will be dangerous, but, hopefully, not too dangerous. “When you win one Slam, you can win the others,” Roger said. “It gives you motivation and confidence. And given his final in Wimbledon last year, he knows that on all other surfaces, he can win the title.” Maybe, but not with Fed salivating for revenge and with more weapons on turf, as his serve and volley will come back into play and his forehand will be more penetrating. Lock the Swiss in to become the first man since Borg to win five straight titles.
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ANDY RODDICK: The obvious No. 3 pick with his two final-round appearances. Has the serve and improved volley to reach the final again — if he doesn’t end up on Fed’s side on the draw. A-Rod is titleless this year and it’s time for him and coach Connors to deliver on the promise that he’s ready for primetime again.
LLEYTON HEWITT: Won ‘01 title and has been a factor ever since. Likes his chances against anyone save for Fed and given how determined he still is, you can’t completely count the gritty Aussie out of the final.
IVAN LJUBICIC: Will this talented and big-serving Croat ever show up huge at a Slam? Clock is ticking.
DAVID NALBANDIAN: ‘01 finalist showed signs of revival from his injuries in Paris and has the all-around game and experience to trouble anyone.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Young Serb is more of a hard-court player, but on dry days the turf can play like cement and there aren’t enough grass-court specialists to prevent him from charging into week 2.
TOMAS BERDYCH: Young Czech has the serve and groundies to do serious damage, but his volleys are suspect.
ANDY MURRAY: Bad wrist injury is troubling, but he’ll
likely play anyway and the crowd will carry the smart young Scot into the
second week.
SERENA WILLIAMS VS. JUSTINE HENIN REDUX?: In ‘03, Serena fell to Henin in Paris and then punched out the Belgian in the Wimby semis. Expect Serena to try to exact payback in London again, as she was peeved by her performance in the RG quarters. Regardless of whether she faces Henin, the eight-time Slam champ comes in as the favorite. No one can serve and return with the ferocity that she does on grass, and she loves to sprint on the surface. With her life coming to together off court, a bigger task lies ahead for Henin on court — winning the one major that eludes her — Wimbledon. The six-time Slam champ reached the final in ‘01 and lost to Venus. She fell to Mauresmo in ‘06. She has the all-around game to win, but because of her French successes, has been unable to display sufficient energy in the final. Plus, her major rivals bring a lot more to the table on green blades. But if the Belgian can get her sometimes fragile body to last one more match, a career Slam isn’t out of the question.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Says she can win plenty of contests without her big heater and proved that in Paris until the semis, when she really could have used some cheap points in her blowout loss to Ivanovic. If the ‘04 champ’s sore shoulder heals and she can cut loose with her serve, return and forehand, she’s a serious threat. If not, she’ll be no more than a semifinalist.
AMELIE MAURESMO: Slowly healing after her spring appendectomy, the Frenchwoman will charge hard to defend her crown. But while the vet is the most accomplished serve and volleyer on tour, her time is waning. This is her last great shot.
SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA: May be the game’s most unpredictable player. One moment, she’s dominating, the next, she’s getting trounced in the third set by an elite player. Has the serve, movement and volleys to go far, but may check out mentally.
JELENA JANKOVIC: A terrific year for the charismatic Serb, who moves nimbly and should have few problems powering groundstrokes for winners. But her serve is too much of liability to expect more than a semi.
ANA IVANOVIC: Has the power to knock down anyone, but must rediscover her serve and familiarize herself with movement on turf. Another Slam final would be stunning, but a semi wouldn’t.
VENUS WILLIAMS: It’s strange to place this three-time champ in a spoiler’s position, but her average results this year have given prognosticators no other choice.
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