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Breaking down the Wimbledon draw Posted: Thursday June 20, 2002 11:53 AM
Sports Illustrated senior writer Jon Wertheim peers into his crystal ball to reveal the fate of the top 16 men's and women's seeds for Wimbledon. Scroll down to see the first-round matches you shouldn't miss, some darkhorse candidates to advance to Week 2, and his championship predictions. WOMEN'S REPORT | Men's Report 1. Venus Williams: Can she get past formidable, 442nd-ranked Jane O'Donaghue in her first match? After that, the draw opens up. In fact, it will be real shocker if she and Serena don't meet in the final. 2. Serena Williams: Shouldn't get anything remotely resembling a test until the quarters. 3. Jennifer Capriati: Should breeze to semis, much as she did in Paris. But Williams sisters seem to have assumed squatters' rights in her psyche.
5. Kim Clijsters: A lot to prove after French Open debacle. Having just split with long-time coach, one suspects there's too much dissonance for her to break through. 6. Justine Henin: Last year's surprise finalist is a surprise no more. 7. Jelena Dokic: A big-event player, Dokic ought to live up to her seeding before meeting her match against Serena. Assuming, of course, her courtesy car arrives on time. 8. Sandrine Testud: A case for subjective seeding, Testud has never been past the fourth round. Look for the Mary Pierce/Alicia Molik winner to give her a run in Round 2. 9. Amélie Mauresmo: Her baroque, loopy strokes don't go well with grass. When she loses to Anastasia Myskina in third round, you can say you read it here first. 10. Silvia Farina Elia: As usual, give her credit for being a top-10 player so late in her career. But don't look for her during the second week. In fact, don't be surprised if Amy Frazier takes her out in Round 1. 11. Daniela Hantuchova: The Miles Monroe sleeper. 12. Elena Dementieva: Long overdue for a solid Slam. The elemental game is there, but where's the fire? 13. Meghann Shaughnessy: Game has picked up a bit recently, but it's hard to see her surpassing her seeding. 14. Iroda Tulyaganova: Plays best when no one is watching. Potentially tough first-rounder against talented but erratic Silvija Talaja. 15. Anna Smashnova: Having a swell year, but she's no one's grass-court ingenue. 16. Lisa Raymond: Won't beat Venus, but she plays her best tennis on faster surfaces. LOWER SEEDS WORTH WATCHING 18. Anastasia Myskina: Talented player who should be atoning for French Open failures. 22. Anne Kremer: Solid, smart player. 23. Iva Majoli: Big strokes always make her a threat. Big question: where's her head? 24. Alexandra Stevenson: Seriously. 30. Clarisa Fernandez: Just so we won't get fooled again. 31. Nicole Pratt: Crafty veteran plays well on faster surfaces. DARKHORSE STABLE Mary Pierce: As is her hard-serving first-round opponent, Alicia Molik.
FIRST-ROUND MATCHES TO WATCH Barbara Schett vs. Cara Black.
PREDICTIONS Semifinals: Venus Williams vs. Henin; Capriati vs. Serena Williams
Click here to send a question to Jon Wertheim's Tennis Mailbag.
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