Wimbledon 2013: Contenders and Predictions

As in 2003 Roger and Serena triumphed in 2012 - who will in 2013?

Wimbledon 2013: Contenders and Predictions

The first ball is struck on the lawns of SW19 in little over 12 hours time so, trying to contain my excitement, on the eve of the 127th Championships at Wimbledon here's my take on what could happen and who will be the key protagonists.

The Big Guns - Women's singles

Serena Williams - The overwhelming favourite. In ferocious form and loves the grass. On current form the chances of her not holding a sixth Wimbledon crown at the end of the fortnight are very slim.

Maria Sharapova - Nine years after her surprise victory as a 17 year-old the Russian will be aiming to reach her third final at SW19.  Favourite to meet Serena in the final and will be encouraged by her Paris performance against the American. But Serena is still better on grass than clay so....

Victoria Azarenka - Twice a semi-finalist the Belarusian will have her heart set on a first Wimbledon final. Despite being seeded a place higher I don't see her taking out the Russian if the two meet in the last four.

Petra Kvitova - When she puts it all together and brings her A game I still believe she's the second best player in the world.  Her form in winning the 2011 title was magnificent but she's much more hit and miss since then.  Still the grass suits her game and I could see her beating Azarenka in the quarters. 

Agnieszka Radwanska - The Pole made a major breakthrough twelve months ago by reaching her first Slam final.  Her 2013 form has been inconsistent and this time she's in Serena's half so the best she can hope for realistically is a semi-final berth this time around.

The Big Guns - Men's singles

Novak Djokovic - Putting his Roland Garros heartbreak him the World No.1 will be delighted to see his three major rivals in the other half of the draw.  Surely a second Wimbledon final beckons for the Serb but is he in good enough form to win it? I'm not 100% sure.

Andy Murray - Last year the British No.1 became the first British man to reach the final and will be desperate to go one step further.  The back injury that caused him to miss Paris appeared a thing of the past at Queen's and he realistically could end the long wait for a GBR champion.

Roger Federer - On the 10th anniversary of his first victory the 31 year-old Swiss returns looking for a eighth title.  His confidence will have been buoyed by victory in Halle but defeating Nadal, Murray and Djokovic back-to-back is a very big ask.

Rafael Nadal - Surely the Spaniard will put the ghost of Lukas Rosol to rest with a run deep into the draw as he looks for a third title at SW19.  A quarter final against great rival Federer could, and should, be a thriller.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga - After the four above I view the Frenchman as a distant fifth favourite.  He has lost to Murray in a four set quarter final and a four set semi-final in recent years and the Scot will most likely make it a hat-trick of Wimbledon wins over Tsonga in the last eight this year.

The Dark Horses - Women's singles

Daniela Hantuchova - A first grass court title in Birmingham will mean the 30 year-old Slovak will arrive at SW19 with confidence. A quarter finalist way back in 2002; Hantuchova could well post the favourites some problems.

Sabine Lisicki - The big hitting German has played some of her best tennis on grass with a semi-final and quarter final at Wimbledon in the last two years. With her huge forehand she could make an impact again but being in Serena's quarter is not ideal!

Donna Vekic - The 16 year-old Croat hits a big flat ball off both flanks and reached her first grass court final in Birmingham.  She will be one to avoid.

Tsvetana Pironkova - With her unusual forehand slice the Bulgarian was a semi-finalist in 2010 and a quarter finalist a year later.  She took a set off Sharapova last year and just loves the grass.

Simona Halep - Having won back to back WTA titles since Roland Garros the Romanian will arrive at SW19 with sky high confidence which will make her very dangerous.

The Dark Horses - Men's singles

Jerzy Jankowicz - The big hitting Pole should be a factor on the grass with his thunderbolt delivery and huge groundies.  Certainly one to be avoided.

Lleyton Hewitt - Showed at Queen's that he still loves the grass is amongst the most determined players out there.  Brings the experience of the title back in 2002 and will fight for every ball.

Grigor Dimitrov - Baby Fed - aka Mr Sharapova - is making strides this season and his classical game should be a perfect match for the grass.  If he gets hot it will take one of the big guns to stop him.

Feliciano Lopez - Winning Eastbourne brings the three-time quarter finalist right into the frame.  The lefty has a great serve and loves being round the net.  A danger man.

Nicolas Mahut - The title in Holland will boost the wild card's confidence hugely so soon after reaching his first Grand Slam doubles final in Paris. Keen to make himself famous for more than losing that match in 2011.

Women's Singles - Predictions

Quarter Finals

S.Williams (1) bt M.Kirilenko (10)
A.Radwanska (4) bt S.Halep (U)
M.Sharapova (3) bt C.Wozniacki (9)
P.Kvitova (8) bt V.Azarenka (2)

Semi-finals

S.Willliams (1) bt A.Radwanska (4)
M.Sharapova (3) bt P.Kvitova (8)

Final

S.Williams (1) bt M.Sharapova (3)

Men's Singles - Predictions

Quarter Finals

N.Djokovic (1) bt T.Berdych (7)
D.Ferrer (4) bt K.Nishikori (12)
R.Federer (3) bt R.Nadal (5)
A.Murray (2) bt J-W.Tsonga (6)

Semi-Finals

N.Djokovic (1) bt D.Ferrer (4)
A.Murray (2) bt R.Federer (3)

Final

A.Murray (2) bt N.Djokovic (1)

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