Looking ahead to Wimbledon: Favourites, surprise packages and predicted winners?

Who are the favourites?

For years the “Big Four” (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray) have dominated tournaments for the best part of a decade, going in as favourites and more often than not confirming this by excelling in the latter stages. This year it is slightly different. Whilst they will most likely still be there or there-abouts, Nadal has had a difficult 12 months, and with his recent Wimbledon record abysmal for a player of his calibre, there is a strong possibility that he will not be the ever-present figure in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final as he once was.

Likewise, Federer is beginning to feel the effects of his increasing age, and has been a far less convincing performer in Grand Slams than he used to be at his imperious best, and the question lies as to whether he still has the beating of players like Djokovic and Murray, but the Swiss man is likely to still be running strongly in the second week.

For the women it is a bit more straightforward. Serena Williams is the out-right favourite having recently claimed her 20th (yes, 20!) Grand Slam title, and is gunning for the Calender Grand Slam.  Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic, Petra Kvitova, Simona Halep, Lucie Safarova and Caroline Wozniacki are all likely to challenge, but whether any of them can really challenge the American Williams remains to be seen.