Wimbledon: Up for grabs

A record $14.6m at stake as the world’s best launch their bid for tennis’ most prestigious Grand Slam today.

LONDON:

Tennis’ showpiece event, the 125th edition of Wimbledon, will commence today at the All England Club with the world’s top players competing for Grand Slam glory.

Roger Federer

Roger Federer can picture himself lifting a record-equalling seventh Wimbledon title, but can also sense the dangers posed by Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.

“I know I could tie with Sampras here,” said Federer, who starts his campaign against Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Kukushkin. “It’s obviously something very special and important.

“For me if I close my eyes and think about Wimbledon, it’s the moment when I lift the trophy. That’s the picture I see the strongest.”

Rafael Nadal

The world number one played down his chances of matching Federer’s Grand Slam haul, saying the likelihood of reaching his rival’s record of 16 titles remained “a dream.”

Nadal dismissed suggestions that Federer’s record was in his sights here, saying he was “very far” from the Swiss master’s benchmark.

“I am not close to the 16 of Roger,” Nadal said. “Sixteen is a lot. We can dream about a lot of things. For me it’s a dream. Maybe not for you.”

Novak Djokovic

The world number two said he was better prepared for Wimbledon than ever despite minimal practice on grass.

After a 41-match unbeaten start to 2011, the 24-year-old was probably glad to have a little respite and plot another winning streak after his French Open semi-final loss against Federer.

“I’m happy. I feel good physically and mentally,” Djokovic told reporters.

“You know, I guess you can always put Federer and Nadal in front of everybody else to win Wimbledon because they have been so successful on grasscourts in the past,” he said.

Williams sisters

Serena and Venus Williams aim to maintain a decade of dominance at Wimbledon from today with their fearsome reputations so established that even world number one Caroline Wozniacki is desperate to avoid contact.

The sisters have turned Wimbledon into a personal fiefdom, winning the title on nine occasions — Serena with four, Venus with five.

“No one wants to play them. They have the experience and play really well, especially on grass,” said Wozniacki.

Serena, who starts her campaign against France’s Aravane Rezai, said, “I’m just taking everything one day at a time, and I’m not putting too much expectation on myself or on my game.”

Li Na

French Open champion Li Na insists she can cope with the extra pressure of being Asia’s first Grand Slam singles winner as the Chinese star aims to continue her year to remember at Wimbledon.

Li made history when she ended the long wait for an Asian champion in one of the four majors by defeating Italy’s Francesca Schiavone in the French Open final earlier this month.

“There is a little bit of pressure but I like it. That can improve you a lot,” she said.

Maria Sharapova

Maria Sharapova will consider a second Wimbledon title as her biggest achievement as the Russian superstar hunts a fourth Grand Slam crown.

“I said that if I could win another Grand Slam, it would mean more than the previous ones that I have just because before the injury everything was kind of moving up,” said Sharapova.

“I think it would be my biggest achievement in my career.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 20^th, 2011.