TENNIS.com - 2009 Wimbledon - Our Picks: 2009 Wimbledon

Our Picks: 2009 Wimbledon

The editors of TENNIS Magazine and TENNIS.com predict who will win the 2009 Wimbledon titles.

TENNIS Editors	Men's Picks	Women's Picks	Comments
James Martin Editor-in-Chief	Andy Murray	Serena Williams	Andy Murray: While Federer is the bookmaker's favorite, they might want to go back and check his draw. The Mighty Fed has several big servers standing in his way. Murray, who's coming into the event with a grass-court title under his belt, has perhaps the smoothest draw into the semifinals. Rafa's withdrawal only further helps the Scot's chances. Serena Williams: Her older sister, Venus, has been the Queen of Centre Court, but Serena is also lethal on this surface. And, over the last 12 months, she's been playing the better tennis at the Slams. If she can avoid any early round hiccups, she'll slug her way right to the trophy.
Steve Tignor Executive Editor	Roger Federer	Serena Williams	Roger Federer: He should be relaxed and feeling almost bullet-proof after the French. He’s pretty good when he feels that way, and his nemesis Murray is in the other half of the draw. Serena Williams: She should be just as motivated but more grounded than she was in Paris. And last year’s loss to her sister in the final was too bitter a pill for her to think about swallowing again.
Sarah Unke Managing Editor	Andy Murray	Victoria Azarenka	Andy Murray: Amid the other headlines in men’s tennis heading into Wimbledon—Roger finally winning the French, Rafa pulling out—the perennial “Can Murray Win Wimbledon?” headline almost seems like an afterthought. Maybe that will help the Scot to the title. The only major threats in his half are Juan Martin del Potro and Andy Roddick. Can Murray repeat Rafa’s revolt from last year and beat Federer in the final? I think so. Victoria Azarenka: Though the women’s Wimbledon trophy, the Venus Rosewater dish, might as well have been named for Venus Williams, I’m ready for a surprise winner on the women’s side. Azarenka’s quick movement and heavy strokes are perfect for grass. But there is one huge threat in her quarter: Serena Williams.
Peter Bodo Senior Editor	Roger Federer	Victoria Azarenka	Roger Federer: Okay, here’s my take on “bracketology.” Everyone’s draw is good until it’s not. Looking back at Roland Garros, I heard scant few people saying that Nadal had a tough draw, but it turned out to be his toughest draw in five years. The question at every major is, 'who – if anyone – is going to be this event’s Robin Soderling' and, just as importantly, 'who is going to be this event’s upset victim?' For those reasons, I put little stock in a draw and a lot in how the stars and on-the-ground conditions seem to be aligned for any given player. On that basis, I find it hard to pick anyone but Federer, who goes into Wimbledon utterly relaxed, healthy, no longer needing to prove anything to anyone. Can you say, “Playing with house money?” Victoria Azarenka: Anyone who picks against the Williams sisters at a major is entertaining suicidal thoughts, and let’s remember that Venus has emerged as the most formidable of Wimbledon competitors since Steffi Graf. Still...this year, both Venus and Serena have looked like players in search of motivation that they can no longer muster. Combine that with a lack of match play and you can see how the Williamses might stumble, and the women might produce their first first-time champion since Amelie Mauresmo. I’m going with that blond powderkeg and hyper-motivated youngster, Azarenka.
Bill Gray Senior Editor	Roger Federer	Maria Sharapova	Roger Federer: The fortnight is foregone. Rog has the motivation (breaking the all-time Slam tie), he's coming off a huge confidence boost (merci, Roland Garros), and he has the best grass game in the business. I'll take Rog; you guys can have the rest of the field, even money. Maria Sharapova: Her edge: No pressure and no inner or outside expectations, just like in 2004 when she mowed down the field on the hallowed grass, including Serena in the final. The arm's fine and her head's on straight.
Tom Perrotta Senior Editor	Roger Federer	Victoria Azarenka	Roger Federer: It’s a new world for Federer at this tournament: No more pressure. At least, not nearly as much. Now that he has won the French Open and tied Pete Sampras with 14 major titles, Federer ought to play free and easy. Last year, it took one of the all-time great performances in sports history to dethrone him. It might take something more to stop him this time. Victoria Azarenka: It’s time for a new Wimbledon champion. Venus is still the favorite, and she should be seeded No. 1 (Wimbledon stubbornly refuses to bump her up). But I don’t see her winning three titles in a row and her sister, Serena, didn’t seem to be in the best shape at the French Open. Azarenka might have to beat both of them to win, and she has the talent, and the toughness, to do it.
Sarah Thurmond Associate Editor	Roger Federer	Maria Sharapova	Roger Federer: Federer skipped his annual Wimbledon warm-up in Halle, but that won't hurt him. Judging by his early-round opposition and his history at the All England Club, it would not be surprising if he breaks his tie with Pete Sampras for most Grand Slam titles in a couple weeks. Maria Sharapova: Why not? She's improving with each match, going deeper at each tournament she plays, and getting back in the groove. Her serve is still a little wonky, and she needs to get the double faults under control, but she's won here before and I like her chances to win here again.
David Rosenberg Photo Editor	Andy Murray	Serena Williams	Andy Murray: Men's tennis is feeling older to me. Everyone is going to be watching Murray, but Haas, Santoro, Safin, Hewitt, Soderling, and of course, Federer are still around and could make this a veteran's event. Or, maybe not. Murray over Federer. Serena Williams: It's hard to imagine any woman other than a Williams making the final. All the tricky grass-court players are in Serena's section -- which makes me think she'll have some early struggles -- but she'll take the title over Venus.
Abigail Lorge Managing Editor, TENNIS.com	Roger Federer	Serena Williams	Roger Federer: Only one player, Nadal, has beaten Federer at the All England Club since 2002; incredibly, Fed’s span of dominance dates back to the first half of W’s first term in the White House. With Nadal out, and Federer buoyed by his win at the French Open, I see the Swiss claiming his 15th Slam and breaking Sampras’ record at the same place he won his first in ’03. Murray will thrill the Brits by winning Wimbledon one day, but not this year. I see Federer beating Andy Roddick in a repeat of the 2004 and 2005 finals. Serena Williams: I wish I could pick Elena Dementieva to win her long overdue first Slam, but she hasn’t been playing well enough lately. No. 1 Safina is likely still reeling from two straight dismal Slam finals, and defending champ Venus seemed listless at the French (though it could have been her disinclination towards clay). So I’ll take two-time Wimby champ (and 2008 finalist) Serena to win her second major of the year and 11th overall.
Ed McGrogan Assistant Editor, TENNIS.com	Roger Federer	Venus Williams	Roger Federer: Federer's surprising success at Madrid and Roland Garros is one of the stranger plot twists tennis has seen. (And you thought the men's tour was so predictable.) I think we'll finally return to normalcy at Wimbledon with a vintage Federer performance. Venus Williams: Few players have displayed Federer-like dominance at a particular tournament in the women's game, but Venus (at Wimbledon) is an exception. She's been patchy so far this season but the London lawn is her lair.