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Breaking down the Wimbledon draw Posted: Friday June 20, 2003 1:44 PM
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. Serena Williams: Her air of invincibility may have vaporized. But she's off clay, she's on a fast surface, her draw is pillowy. And she's mad as hell. 2. Kim Clijsters: The big question is how she has recovered from her bittersweet French Open. On paper, it's hard to see her losing before the semis, but, especially on grass, we have a hunch that an upset is brewing here -- say, if she meets her doubles partner, Ai Sugiyama, in the Round of 16. 3. Justine Henin-Hardenne: It will be interesting to see the effects of the past few weeks on her game. Some have suggested that her motivation and energy will be sapped, but it says here that the confidence boost from Paris will do wonders for her game, long-term. Whatever, it's hard to see her beating Serena in a likely Grand Slam-semifinal rematch. Grass ain't clay. And the fans' loyalties will be at least somewhat divided. 4. Venus Williams: Lots of questions swirling around the 2000 champ. Is she bored with tennis? Injured and not saying? Bothered more than she lets on by the success of Serena? Simply in need of a layoff? Still, take a look at her draw and, especially on grass, it's hard to find anyone capable of beating her until late. 5. Lindsay Davenport: How's the foot? The answer is the difference between an early loss and a deep run. (In fact, if she's close to 100 percent, she might well beat Venus in the quarters.) 6. Amélie Mauresmo: It would've been interesting to see how her recent French Open experience manifested in her game, but she withdrew at the last minute with a rib injury. Leading to newly seeded No. 33 below ... 7. Chanda Rubin: We haven't forgotten the waxing she put on Henin-Hardenne on the fast courts of Key Biscayne. Will she win the whole Shepherd's Pie? No. But a run to the semis isn't inconceivable. 8. Jennifer Capriati: The U.S.S. Jen-Jen has been battered and buffeted of late. Myriam Casanova could give her a nice first-round test -- lots of heavy hitting -- but then it looks like smooth sailing until Serena in the quarters. 9. Daniela Hantuchova: Would do well to take time off and get her physique into playing shape. The tabloids, of course, mercilessly will have a field day with her "body issues," which will make for unwanted distractions. 10. Anastasia Myskina: Intriguing, streaky player who could do some damage, especially if she keeps her wits about her. 11. Jelena Dokic: Her past Wimbledon results speak for themselves, but to quote Micheal Ray Richardson, "The ship be sinking." 12. Magdalena Maleeva: As always, she could live up to her seeding, but don't expect more. 13. Ai Sugiyama: She moves well, volleys well and is coming off a strong French Open. Look for her in the second week. 14. Eleni Daniilidou: It's getting close to "What have you done for me lately?" time. Her percussive ballstriking and serving should presage success, but where's her head? 15. Elena Dementieva: She sure can't complain about her draw, but her game -- and thus her results -- can be all over the map. 16. Vera Zvonareva: We like the Big Z long-term, but her counterpunching game isn't particularly well-suited to grass. LOWER SEEDS WORTH WATCHING 18. Conchita Martinez: Her best days, of course, are behind her, but she's become the classic wily veteran who frustrates younger players with her tricks of the trade. Plus, she has won this thing in the past. 23. Lisa Raymond: One of the few women who can serve-and-volley with verve. The faster the surface, the better she plays. 26. Alexandra Stevenson: Her Grand Slam results have been abysmal of late, but this former semifinalist could win some rounds on her serve alone. (On the other hand, we can easily see tricky French lefty Emilie Loit confounding her in Round 1.) 28. Laura Granville: Slowly but steadily, her stock keeps rising. Too bad she meets Serena early. 29. Nadia Petrova: She does everything well, if nothing spectacularly. Broke through in Paris and now seems destined for the top 20 by summer's end. 33. Svetlana Kuznetsova: She's more than Martina Navratilova's Carl Reiner. DARKHORSE NATION Karolina Sprem: Truth be told, we know little about her, except that her results these past few months (on multiple surfaces) have been eyebrow-raising. Alicia Molik: Have serve, will travel. Iroda Tulyaganova: Tends to get stage fright in big matches, but she sure hits a big ball. Tina Pisnik: Best player you've never heard of. FIRST-ROUND MATCHES TO WATCH Maria Sharapova vs. Ashley Harkleroad: Tiger Beat special. Janette Husarova vs. No. 22 Nathalie Dechy: Husarova is a bit of a headcase, but she has a great set of hands and could spring a mini-upset. PREDICTIONS Semifinals: Serena Williams vs. Henin-Hardenne, Venus Williams vs. Sugiyama
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