Odds: 3/1 Wimbledon high
- She may have a few years ahead
of her, but even so she'll find it hard
to top winning the title last year -
humbling Serena Williams in the final.
Wimbledon low
- None as yet.
In the players'
box - Maria's number one fan
is dad Yuri Sharapov - who Russian Fed
Cup captain Shamil Tarpishchev reckons
has a "strange, quickly-changing
nervous system". In other words,
mad as a hatter. Sharapova is rumoured
to be going out with former men's world
number one Juan Carlos Ferrero.
Tears or tantrums?
- Sharapova literally screams as she
hits every ball, which is perhaps why
she doesn't have a voice left to argue
with umpires.
Look out for
- ...her at your local Post Office.
Tennis' latest glamour girl lists stamp-collecting
as one of her hobbies.
Champ or choker?
Champ all the way.
AMELIE MAURESMO
Odds: 20/1 Wimbledon high
- Semi-finals in 2002 and 2004
- losing to Serena Williams on both
occasions.
Wimbledon low
- Last year's defeat in the last
four. Mauresmo was a set and a break
up against Serena but victory eluded
her.
In the players'
box - Hard to say. Coach Loic
Courteau recently opted not to travel
to the Italian Open with Mauresmo because
he thought she wasn't listening to him.
Yannick Noah has been offering his advice
recently.
Tears or tantrums?
- Given some of the dramatic
matches Mauresmo has created for herself,
the Frenchwoman rarely shows much emotion.
Look out for
- ...her tattoo. It's an angel
on her left shoulder.
Choker or champ?
Putting it kindly, Mauresmo has had
a few problems finishing off her opponents.
Putting it unkindly, she can choke on
air - although she usually saves her
most agonising performances for her
home Grand Slam in Paris.
SERENA
WILLIAMS
Odds: 5/2 Wimbledon high
- Winning the title in 2002 and
2003.
Wimbledon low
- Losing to Sharapova in last year's
final. The ever-modest Serena felt she
only had herself to blame: "I had
a lot of chances, but I didn't take
them. So, whatever." Indeed.
In the players'
box - Mum Oracene or dad Richard.
Serena has been going out with Hollywood
film director Brett Ratner for over
a year but he rarely travels with her.
Tears or tantrums?
- Serena and Justine Henin-Hardenne
have one of the most intense rivalries
in tennis after their encounter at the
French Open. A tearful Serena accused
her opponent of "lying and fabricating"
after a disputed point.
Look out for
- ...her outfit. Serena's increasingly
bizarre on-court clothing is always
the highlight of the first couple of
days at a Grand Slam, a joy we were
deprived of at the French Open when
she withdrew injured. Unveiling a pink
dress for the first time a few years
ago, bashful Serena remarked: "Hot
pink for a hot girl."
Choker or champ?
Champ - when she's not distracted by
her other interests in fashion, acting,
studying, modelling etc etc.
VENUS
WILLIAMS
Odds: 8/1 Wimbledon high
- Winning the title in 2000 and 2001.
Wimbledon low
- Losing successive finals to
lil' sis' Serena in 2002 and 2003.
In the players'
box - Mum Oracene or dad Richard.
In 2002, then world heavyweight champ
Lennox Lewis appeared alongside Serena
to support Venus.
Tears or tantrums?
- Given some disappointing losses
this year, it's somewhat surprising
we haven't seen Venus lose it on court.
Look out for
- ...her admitting she was beaten by
a better player. After defeat to Sesil
Karatantcheva at this year's French
Open, Venus said she had never heard
of her conqueror (an up-and-coming star
of the women's game) and would have
won "easily" if she had played
10% better.
Choker or champ?
Certainly not a choker - but hardly
a champ on current form.
JUSTINE
HENIN-HARDENNE
Odds: 3/1 Wimbledon high
- When she had just the single-barrelled
surname, Justine recovered from a set
down in the 2001 semi-finals to shock
Jennifer Capriati - who had won the
year's first two Grand Slam titles.
Wimbledon low
- A 6-3 6-2 trouncing by Serena
Williams in the 2003 semis.
In the players'
box - Husband Pierre-Yves and
coach Carlos Rodriguez are ever-presents.
Belgian actor/comedian Francois Pirette
was also on hand to offer his support
when Henin-Hardenne won this year's
French Open.
Tears or tantrums?
- Usually leaves that to her
beaten opponents.
Look out for
- ...her beating a Williams sister.
In her four Wimbledon visits, Henin-Hardenne
has lost to a Williams on three occasions.
Choker or champ?
Seems incredible now but there were
concerns about Henin-Hardenne's mental
strength when she blew a commanding
lead against Kim Clijsters in the 2001
French Open semis. That was before she
won four Slams - and left poor Kim in
the shade.
ELENA
DEMENTIEVA
Odds: 40/1 Wimbledon high
- Not a fan of the green stuff,
a couple of fourth-round appearances
are as good as it gets.
Wimbledon low
- Last year's first-round defeat to
the little-known Sandra Kleinova. Dementieva
won more points - but still managed
to lose. Work that one out.
In the players'
box - Her mum Vera and her coach
Olga Morozova. She also has a Yorkshire
terrier called Patrick - and a large
cactus collection (which she leaves
at home in Moscow).
Tears or tantrums?
- Shows excellent form in this area.
After a dismal defeat to Anastasia Myskina
in the 2004 French Open final, Dementieva
told the 15,000 crowd "I hate my
serve" and later cried in the news
conference.
Look out for
- ...her serve. In that final,
she delivered three double faults in
her opening service game. As American
journalist Bud Collins said: "She
might have done better in a dark room."
Choker or champ?
Choker - but at least she admits
to it. After that horrible performance
in Paris, she said: "I just couldn't
handle the pressure."
