Serena & Venus Williams at Wimbledon:Sharapova, Li Na, Wozniacki to Stop Sisters
http://www.uk-freelance-content-writer.co.uk/
Venus Williams is safely into round 3 of Wimbledon 2011 and her sister Serena is waiting to play her second round match. Neither of them looked particularly comfortable after lengthy absences from the sport.
However, their power and knowledge is usually enough to see them through early tournament rounds even when they are not playing particularly well. The Williams sisters have dominated women’s tennis for the last decade and in particular, Wimbledon.
Venus has 7 Grand Slam singles titles, of which 5 are Wimbledon triumphs whilst younger sister Serena has 4 Wimbledon wins amongst her 13 Grand Slam singles titles.
With Maria Sharapova (2004) and Amelie Mauresmo (2006) the only other ladies winners in London in the past 11 years, the rest of the women’s draw will be hoping that, the long lay-off might finally draw the Williams dominance to a close.
Knowing that both Serena and Venus can blow opponents away even when not at their best, is there enough strength currently in the women’s game to upset the odds?
In a world where fashion often clashes with sport, who could win the ladies singles at Wimbledon this year?
Maria Sharapova – The fans favourite has showed enough form in the last month or so to suggest that she isn’t too far away from being a serious contender again. She has 3 Grand Slam titles but none since Australia 2008.
Li Na – The Chinese player is arguably the form player in 2011 having won the French Open at Roland Garros (and in doing so becoming the first Asian player to win a singles Grand Slam title) and finishing runner up to Kim Clijsters (missing Wimbledon through injury) in Australia. She is in the same age bracket as the Williams sister and is also a powerful hitter.
Caroline Wozniacki – At just 20, she already has 17 WTA singles titles to her name and largely because of these successes has become the world number 1. She reached the final of the US Open in 2009 but has failed to threaten in any other major.
Vera Zvonareva – A consistent performer over the past twelve months and a finalist at Wimbledon in 2010. The current world number 3 could certainly take the title if she plays well throughout.
Marion Bartoli – Went somewhat off the boil after reaching the Wimbledon final in 2007 but seems to have found a bit of form in 2011. A strong showing reaching the Semi Finals at the French was followed up with a win on grass at Eastbourne so she is perfectly prepped to do well.
Daniela Hantuchova – Now 28, her early career promised much but didn’t quite deliver, possibly because of the incredible strength in the women’s game over the past decade. A slight niggling injury aside, she finds herself in great form in 2011, where in her 3 most recent tournaments she has claimed the scalps of Wozniacki, Li Na and Venus Williams. Is she a dark horse to do well at Wimbledon?
Along with Azarenka, Schiavone and Kuznetsova, I think the winner will emerge from the group mentioned above but it is still likely that it will be the Williams sisters who take most of the headlines.
So, Li Na will not challenge for the trophy this year, after a dramatic defeat to wildcard Sabine Lisicki of Germany. The 3rd seed Chinese player went down in 3 sets losing 8-6 in the decider. Meanwhile, Serena Williams also needed 3 sets but she made it safely through. The rest of the names above are all still standing. (Updated 23.06.11)
After losing Li Na yesterday, two more of the fancied names above departed the Wimbledon 2011 tournament. Vera Zvonareva was soundly beaten in round 3 by 32nd seed Tsvetana Pironkova, 6-2, 6-3.
Meanwhile, over on Centre Court, Daniela Hantuchova crashed out in 3 sets to 4th seed Victoria Azarenka.
Schiavone and Kuznetsova have tumbled out, losing to Paszek and Wickmayer respectively. However, Serena and Venus are ominously both into round 4 in the ladies singles. (Updated 25.06.11)
Well, one of them had to go! Serena Williams v Marion Bartoli for a place in the Quarter Finals and it was Bartoli who won through in straight sets, sending the defending champion crashing out!
Elsewhere, Maria Sharapova marches on with a 6-4, 6-2 win over China's Shuai Peng and Azarenka beat Petrova 6-2, 6-2 to seal her place in the last eight.
At the time of writing, Venus Williams is struggling and a set down against Tsvetana Pironkova.
Caroline Wozniacki has crashed out in 3 sets to Dominika Cibulkova! That's the defending champion and the world number 1 out on the same day! (Upated 27.06.11)
So, down to the semi finals now and only two of the names in the above article remain: Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka.
Sharapova will play Sabine Lisicki and Azarenka will play Petra Kvitova for a place in the 2011 Wimbledon final. (Updated 28.06.11)
The 2011 Wimbledon Ladies Singles Final will be contested by Maria Sharapova and Petra Kvitova. Sharapova, in the final for the first time since she won the tournament 7 years ago, overcame Sabine Lisicki in straight sets while Kvitova defeated Azarenka in 3 sets. (Updated 29.06.11)
Petra Kvitova is the 2011 Wimbledon Champion after beating Maria Sharpova in straight sets!
Article submitted Wednesday, June 22, 2011 & read 195 times.
Leave your comments through Sperts: