Top seed Serena Williams has simply run through her opponents. Likewise, Sharapova has had little difficulty getting to this stage, sending her adversaries home in straight sets.  Serena and Sharapova have played seven times with the former winning five of those meetings.  Curiously, since the 2004 championship, the two have never battled on grass.  In essence, this will be their rematch.  A significant factor will be how well Sharapova serves.  If the Russian does well in that department, Serena could be in trouble.

Na Li and Agniezska Radwanska who face each other in the fourth round have yet to drop a set in getting this far.  Radwanska holds a 2-1 record against Li and both victories have been on grass.  But for both Li and Radwanska, the quarterfinals will be a tough ask with either Sharapova or Serena as a rival.

A definite stunner was the dismissal of French Open finalist Samantha Stosur in the first round by Kaia Kanepi.  Previously ranked as high as 18 in 2009, Kanepi’s placement dipped to 80.  After ousting another seed Alexandra Dulgheru in the third round, the talented Estonian is in the round of 16 .  Another surprise is Kanepi’s opponent in the fourth round, Klara Zakopalova.  The 28 year old had not gone pass the third round at a major previously.  Zakopalova advanced by bouncing 18th seed Aravane Rezai in the second round and trouncing 10th seed Flavia Pennetta in the third.

Caroline Wozniacki, the third seed, has been splendid on grass as she attempts to better her fourth round result from last year.  Jie Zheng, the 23rd seed, and Victoria Azarenka, the 14th seed, fell victim to Petra Kvitova in the second and third round respectively. Thus, Wozniacki takes on Kvitova in the round of 16.  The Dane carried their prior two matches.  Furthermore, with Kanepi or Zakopalova as a quarterfinal match-up, Wozniacki truly has a green light to the semifinals.

This was a disastrous week for the French Open winners.  The reigning champion Francesca Schiavone went out in the first round.  Last year’s title holder and 19th seed Svetlana Kuznetsova crashed out in the second round.  Ana Ivanovic, the 2008 victor, bowed out in the first round.  Hence, Ivanovic’s ranking of 45 will continue to head toward the cellar.

Focusing on the bottom half of the draw, Clijsters has shown no mercy to her competitors each of the first three rounds.  Although Henin has gone through in two sets, at times, there have been rough patches.  Not unusual considering her third round opponent was Nadia Petrova.  Neither Clijsters nor Henin has been a Wimbledon champion.  While Henin was a finalist in 2001 and 2006, Wimbledon is the only major Clijsters has yet to reach the final.  Despite a tie record of 12 a piece, since their return, Clijsters has prevailed in both of their matches. As these two clash in the fourth round, someone’s dream of the title will be postponed for another season.

Injuries have been an issue for Vera Zvonareva the last year or so.  The Russian has been finding her form and is now in the round of 16 where she battles Jelena Jankovic.  Wimbledon is the sole major where Jankovic has not gone beyond the fourth round.  Both Jankovic and Zvonareva will be seeking their initial quarterfinal berth at this venue.  Although Jankovic leads their head to head 6-5, Zvonareva has won the last two.

Another face new to the second week at a major is Tsvetana Pironkova.  The 23 year old Bulgarian took out Vera Dushevina, who booted Schiavone, in the second round.  Marion Bartoli, the 2007 runner up, received a walkover in the second round and had straight sets triumphs in the others.  Bartoli contends with Pironkova in the round of 16 against whom she has a 3-0 record.  So, Pironkova’s dream run may be at its end since Bartoli is unlikely to falter.

Jarmila Groth is in the fourth round for the second straight major.  The Aussie defeated 33rd seed Melanie Oudin in the second round.  In the round of 16, Groth has five time titlist and three time finalist Venus Williams on the other side.  Needless to say, it will be a tall order for the Aussie.  Venus has been in her usual unbeatable form on grass this week.  In the quarterfinals, Venus will probably see Bartoli which would be a rematch of the 2007 final.  With either Jankovic, Clijsters or Henin in the semifinal round, if Venus progresses she will have to call on all her grass expertise if she is to reach her ninth Wimbledon final.

The table has been set with plenty for the eyes to feast on and the brain to ponder.  An all Williams final could be in the cards, but, there are many capable spoilers. Whether that role will be filled by Sharapova, Wozniacki, Clijsters, Henin or Jankovic will be revealed in a few days.

The French are known for their flare and Nicolas Mahut is undoubtedly part of the establishment.  In the second round of qualifying, Mahut outlasted his opponent 24-22 in the third set to advance.  Then, Mahut went five sets to make it into the main draw. In the first round of the main draw, Mahut faced John Isner. On Tuesday, the match was interrupted due to darkness after the two split four sets.  When the players returned on Wednesday, the night ended with a 59-59 draw in the fifth. Even the scoreboard was exhausted, crashing when the score got to 40+.  On Thursday, the match concluded when Isner hit two consecutive winners to break Mahut and grab a 70-68 victory.

The encounter which lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes, shattered all previous records and redefined the meaning of marathon match. The fifth set alone spanned 8 hours and 11 minutes.  However, despite a full day’s rest, Isner could not recuperate.  The next round, Thiemo De Bakker, who won his prior round 16-14, dismissed a depleted Isner in just 1hour 14 minutes.  For Isner, the physical consequences may reverberate for months.

While defending champion Roger Federer did not go to such extremes, it was a struggle to survive nevertheless.  Federer was nearly a spectator as 60th ranked Alejandro Falla forced Federer to climb out of a two sets to love deficit, even serving for the match.  With a bit of “luck” as Federer put it, he moved on.  The Swiss’ second round was also tough as qualifier Ilijac Bozoljac prevailed in the second set tiebreaker. Federer carried the match by capturing the fourth set tiebreaker.  The third round, Federer played close to flawlessly against Arnaud Clement.

Rafael Nadal also willed himself to advance.  After a routine initial round, Nadal required five sets the second and third round against Robin Haase and Philipp Petzschener respectively.  More importantly, Nadal had a flare up of his niggling knee problem and was treated for elbow issue.

Following a five setter with Oliver Rochus, Novak Djokovic thumped his next opponents Taylor Dent and Albert Montanes in the subsequent rounds.  British hopeful Andy Murray has been efficient, booting his counterparts in straight sets.  Even the Queen’s first appearance at Wimbledon since 1977 did not distract her subject as Murray dispatched Jarkko Nieminen in the second round.

After an uncomplicated primary round, Andy Roddick was rattled a bit by Michael Llodra and Philipp Kohlschreiber the next rounds, pushed to four sets by each.  Roddick has friendly company into the second week as Sam Querrey secured a fourth round berth after a five set tussle with Xavier Malisse.

Unsurprisingly, his second tournament back from injury, Nikolay Davydenko fell in the second round.  Shocking though was Fernando Verdasco, the 8th seed, Marin Cilic, the 11th seed, Marcos Baghdatis, the 24th seed, and Stanislas Wawrinka, the 20th seed, all exiting their first day out.

Robin Soderling, the 6th seed, has been on cue this week.  The Swede has sailed through his matches, duration under two hours.  His first event since his back injury, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga’s performance has been mixed.  In the second round, Tsonga went five sets after having a two sets to none lead against Alexandr Dolgopolov.  Yet, the following round, Tsonga cruised against qualifier Tobias Kamke.

This tournament has seen a revival of the French veterans.  Paul-Henri Mathieu knocked out 13th seed Mikhail Youzhny and De Bakker in the second and third round respectively to earn a spot in the final 16 at a major for the first time since 2008.  Also, Julien Benneteau is into the second week after surviving two five set matches.

Conversely, Gael Monfils had his fortnight cut short by Lleyton Hewitt in the third round.  Monfils was no match for Hewitt who recently beat Federer in Halle. The Aussie is grooving on grass despite two hip surgeries.

After coasting for two matches, Tomas Berdych had to shake off Denis Istomin in five sets in the third round.  In the round of 16, Berdych could have faced Victor Hanescu, but the Romanian retired after a bizarre incident.

In front two sets to none, Hanescu was forced to a fifth set by Daniel Brands.  Irked that play was not stopped since in his opinion it was too dark, Hanescu got irritated.  A series of purposeful foot fault followed.  Then, the crowd got under Hanescu’s skin resulting in him spitting in its direction.  After being cited for a code violation, Hanescu retired stating a thigh injury.  Hanescu has been sanctioned with a substantial fine for “unsportsmanlike conduct” and the episode is still under review.  Brands, who ousted Davydenko, is the beneficiary as the 22 year old reached his first round of 16 at a major.

Taiwanese Yen-Hsun Lu also caught a break with Cilic sent out early.  The 27 year old is likewise in his maiden fourth round at a major. Tenacious David Ferrer fought his way into the second week.  Ferrer regrouped after squandering a two sets to love advantage against Jeremy Chardy in the third round.  Jurgen Melzer equally dealt with adversity to arrive to the fourth round.  In the second round, Melzer toppled Victor Troicki in five sets and came back after dropping the first set to Feliciano Lopez in the third round.

On Monday round of 16 play begins with Federer and Melzer opening the proceedings on Centre Court.  Despite their decade on tour, astonishingly, the two have never met on court.  This has been a breakthrough year for Melzer, the world number 16 and 2010 French Open semifinalist.  A lefty like Falla, but with more confidence, Federer will need to be at his best, particularly on the backhand wing, if he plans to remain in the hunt for  a record seventh title.

Another first meeting is Berdych and Brands battling for a quarterfinal spot.  As a semifinalist at the French, Berdych should have no trouble moving on to his initial Wimbledon quarterfinal where he could see Melzer or Federer.

Nadal faces Mathieu for the tenth time and has a perfect record against the Frenchman.  Therefore, the Spaniard is unlikely to fall.  Similarly, Soderling encounters Ferrer whom he has vanquished five out of seven times.  As such, Soderling could clash with Nadal in the quarterfinals.  With the way Soderling has been striking the ball, the Swede may prove an unsolvable puzzle for the world number one.

Deadlock in their head to head at 3 a piece, Tsonga and Benneteau battle for a quarterfinal berth while Murray takes on Querrey.  Although Murray has won their three prior matches, their last meeting was in October 2008 and Murray has not been up to snuff since the Australian Open.  Conversely, Querrey captured the warm-up title at Queen’s Club. Consequently, the American could provide the upset and reach his first quarterfinal at a major, possibly the semifinals with Tsonga or Benneteau as his potential quarterfinal opponent.

Already twice this year, Roddick has given Lu his marching papers.  So, it’s almost a given that Roddick will claim the quarterfinal slot.  However, the same cannot be said  for Djokovic in Hewitt’s case.  Although Djokovic has a 3-1 record versus Hewitt, the two have avoided meeting the last two years.  With Djokovic service woes, Hewitt has the door ajar to form part of the last eight.

It’s unfathomable that the excitement of this last week can ever be replicated moving into the second week.  Many questions have been raised with the performances of Federer and Nadal in the primary rounds.  For these two men who have had a lock on Wimbledon since 2003, the outsiders, Roddick, Soderling and Murray may have found a way in.

With the exception of 2004 and 2006 when the Venus Rosewater trophy was leased by Maria Sharapova and Amelie Mauresmo respectively, Venus and Serena Williams have been the proprietor of the Wimbledon title eight out of the last ten years.  In fact, the Williams sisters have been interchangeably the winner and runner-up the ultimate two seasons.   With Serena and Venus as the top two seeds in 2010, a three-peat in the finals is plausible.  However, with Justine Henin having reincorporated herself into the tour with the express objective of hoisting the Wimbledon trophy and compatriot Kim Clijsters a formidable force after rejoining the circuit last summer, a new decade may mark the end of the Williams’ dominance.  Here’s a preview of the draw and the potential obstacles for the chief contenders at the All England Club.

If the outcome is as anticipated, Serena will meet Maria Sharapova in the round of 16.  Despite struggling with her serve since her shoulder surgery, Sharapova has posted some good results the last couple of months.  Moreover, Sharapova reached the finals in Birmingham two weeks ago.  Thus, depending on how well Sharapova plays, the possibility of an upset is undeniable.  With the Birmingham title under her belt, Na Li is a secondary threat in Serena’s section.  A semifinalist in Australia where she loss in two  tiebreaker sets, Li has the weapons to irritate Serena if she gets to the quarterfinals.

Either French Open finalist Samantha Stosur or Caroline Wozniacki could be Serena’s semifinal opponent.  With her recent history at the French Open against Stosur, Serena may have her work cut out for her.  Beforehand, Stosur and Wozniacki may have to battle it out in the quarterfinals.  Looking further back, Wozniacki may have to deal with Victoria Azarenka the 14th seed in the fourth round and Stosur with Flavia Pennetta the 10th seed also in the round of 16.  Since clay is Pennetta’s best surface and with the Italian never making it pass the fourth round, Stosur should prevail.  For Azarenka, the finalist in Eastbourne, a knee injury may be the limiting factor regardless of the rival she faces.

Focusing on the bottom half of the draw, the Wimbledon grass seems to have restorative properties for Venus irrespective of her previous results.  With two titles and finalists status in Miami and Madrid, Venus is in stellar shape.  Venus’ path looks relatively unencumbered until the quarterfinals where she could battle Marion Bartoli or French Open reigning champion Francesca Schiavone.  Still with Venus’ past performance, the scales are heavily tipped in her direction.

For Venus, the clearest danger lies in the semifinals in the forms of Clijsters and Henin.  Although Venus has a 6-6 record against Clijsters, the Belgian is on a four match winning streak.  Moreover, at their last meeting, the Sony Ericsson Open final, Clijsters blew Venus off the court.  While Venus has fared better against Henin, a 7-2 mark, the two have not played since 2007 that in itself may complicate matters for Williams.

Indeed, the most fascinating part of that section has Jelena Jankovic, Nadia Petrova, Henin and Clijsters jockeying for a spot in the semifinals.  Clijsters, the 8th seed, could encounter Henin in the round of 16.  Although Henin seized the warm-up title at the Unicef Open, the fact that she has fallen twice to Clijsters this year carries plenty of weight.  If not Henin, Clijsters could see Petrova in that round.  After the beat down Petrova gave her in Australia, by all means, Clijsters will have an arduous assignment.

Like Venus, Jankovic is another competitor with an unhindered road to the quarterfinals. But, with 1-16 record versus the two Belgians, Jankovic is supplicating the powers that be that Petrova will dispatch those thorns ahead of that stage.  With a 6-2 mark against Petrova, in a quarterfinal setting, Jankovic would have an authentic shot at progressing to the semifinals.

At any major other than the French Open, the Williams are the ones to beat.  In view of the various variables in effect this occasion, their status as favorite is narrower than in previous years.

As the defending Wimbledon champion, Roger Federer has been given the top seed despite relinquishing the number one ranking to Rafael Nadal earlier this month.  Federer will attempt to capture his seventh crown to equalize Pete Sampras’ record at the All England Club. After injury prevented him from defending his 2008 title, a salubrious Nadal is seeking his second back to back French Open and Wimbledon trophies.  However, each man’s section is filled with rivals capable of tripping him prior to the finals.  Here’s a look at the draw

After his historic string of consecutive semifinals was broken at the French Open, Federer had his tight grip on the title in Halle loosen by Lleyton Hewitt. Since prevailing in Australia, Federer has fallen to multiple adversaries whom he has owned and has yet to claim another title.  In light of Federer’s vulnerability, it’s perhaps Andy Roddick’s opportunity to avenge his three previous Wimbledon final defeats by knocking Federer out in the semifinals.  Beforehand though, Federer could have stiff competition in the round of 16 from French Open semifinalist Jurgen Melzer and in the quarterfinals from either Thomas Berdych or Nikolay Davydenko.  But, with the latter just rejoining the tour after nursing an injury for several months, he may be less of a factor.

Roddick may have some trouble of his own to contend with.  The American could see Marin Cilic or Phillip Kohlschreiber in the round of 16.  Kohlschreiber, the 29th seed, has taken down a few big names in his career which makes him dangerous.  In the quarterfinals, Roddick is projected to meet Novak Djokovic.  Djokovic has a tricky first round match against Oliver Rochus to whom he loss in Miami.  In addition, Djokovic has a potential fourth round encounter with Hewitt.  Djokovic’s game has been suffering of late which means that Hewitt has a good shot at reaching the quarterfinals in which case Roddick would be the outright favorite.

In the bottom half of the draw, Nadal could battle big server John Isner in the fourth round.  Isner has a game which translates well to grass and could bother the Spaniard. Then, the world number one has a possible clash with French Open finalist Robin Soderling in the quarterfinals.  Considering their contentious five set, two day third round encounter in 2007 and with the evolution of Soderling’s game if these two collide, it will be an intriguing match.

Out of the top four seeds, Andy Murray, who could be Soderling’s or Nadal’s semifinal counterpart, appears to have the least intricate path to the quarterfinals. Yet, Murray’s game has been on life support since coming up short in Australia.   The defending champion at Queen’s Club, Murray was ousted in the early rounds this year.   As a result, for 2010 Queen’s Club winner, Sam Querrey, whom Murray may encounter in the round of 16, this could be a golden opportunity to earn his maiden quarterfinal spot at a major.  Fernando Verdasco and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga are two additional players who could trouble the Brit.  Still with Tsonga sidelined by injury post French Open, he is a colossal question mark.

With a horde of opponents bruised psychically, the time seems ripe for the passing of the torch at Wimbledon.  The flame bearer may be none other than Roddick who after being a three time runner-up is certainly due.

The first week of play has come to a conclusion at the French Open.  While Andy Murray, the fourth seed, going out in the fourth round to Tomas Berdych was a shock.  The biggest eye popper was David Ferrer, the ninth seed, a definite threat to Rafael Nadal in the bottom half, being ousted in the third round in three sets by Jurgen Melzer.  With both Roger Federer and Nadal methodically working through their sections, the possibility of a final between these two is very much alive.

Despite stumbling at times, Federer, the defending champion, has pulled through all four matches in straight sets.  Robyn Soderling, the 2009 finalist, has played steady ball.  Soderling had no difficulty with Albert Montanes in the third round nor Marin Cilic in the fourth round.  Now, Soderling faces Federer in the quarterfinals and will get the opportunity to seek revenge for last year’s defeat.  Although Federer has an ATP 12-0 record against him, Soderling prevailed in an exhibition in Abu Dhabi this January.  Therefore, Soderling will not be intimidated.

The French will have to wait for their homegrown champion yet another year.  In the first round, Richard Gasquet went down to Murray in a thrilling five setter. Then, in the second round, Gael Monfils was sent packing in a marathon two day drama.  Lastly, in the fourth round, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was compelled to retire against Mikhail Youzhny due to a back injury.  Youzhny battles Berdych as the other quarterfinalist in the top half of the draw.

In the bottom half, after outlasting Mardy Fish in a five set brawl, Ivan Ljubicic could not withstand another assault from 22 year old Thomaz Bellucci.  Yet, in reaching the fourth round for the first time at a major, Bellucci’s prize is Nadal.

At the start of the tournament, Americans with authentic possibilities were likely Andy Roddick, John Isner and Sam Querrey.  The greatest hope was for Isner and Querrey, the latter had prevailed over the former in the finals in Serbia.  With no prior clay court competition, for Roddick, it was going to be an uphill battle to make it deep into the draw.  In the third round, Roddick was outplayed by qualifier Teimuraz Gabashvili and went out in straight sets.  Similarly, in the third round, Berdych expedited Isner.  Still, there is a Stars and Stripes bearer into the second week, he is Bobby Ginepri ranked 98th.  After beating Querrey in the first round, Ginepri outfoxed former champion Juan Carlos Ferrero in the third round.  In the fourth round, Ginepri battles Novak Djokovic.  Djokovic has not been performing at his peak, needing four sets in the first round against Evgeny Korolev, had a tough second round match versus Kei Nishikori and another four setter against Victor Hanescu.  If that pattern continues, Ginepri has a good shot at an upset.

Speaking of not being sharp, Fernando Verdasco is in need of a tune-up.  Verdasco had to claw his way out of trouble in the third round against Philipp Kohlschreiber.  In the fourth round, Verdasco meets countryman Nicolas Almagro who has been impressive thus far.  Thus, Almagro will be a challenge for the seventh seed as he attempts to reach his first quarterfinal in Paris.

For Federer, there’s something else at stake other than the trophy.  This past week, he collected his 700th career victory.  Moreover, in Paris, by getting to the semifinals, Federer has the opportunity to equal Pete Sampras’ record, at 286, of most weeks at number one.  However, should Federer be dethroned prior to that stage, he could surrender that coveted spot to Nadal.  As one who is acutely aware of his place in the history of the game and takes pride in possessing the top ranking, one has the sense that such a factor will motivate Federer to the point of assuring that he sees Nadal on that final Sunday.

Like pack-man, Nadal has been systematically gobbling up the field.  Bellucci and Nadal have played only once, ironically at Roland Garros in 2008.  Since then, Bellucci’s game has matured a great deal.  Perhaps  as an un-jaded commodity, he could be an obstacle for Nadal.  Still, his prospects look bleak.  Considering Nadal’s record against the rest of the field, when all is said, the ball appears squarely in his corner to carry his fifth French Open.

The sun has set on a the first week at the French Open.  As usual there were upsets, many of them expected.  However, Serena Williams and Justine Henin, two pre-tournament  favorites, have not disappointed.  As such, the much touted quarterfinal encounter between these rivals is one round away.  Here is a synopsis of the main developments of the initial days.

A bunch of big names took a tumble in the bottom section of the draw.  Leading the pack was Svetlana Kuznetsova, the defending champion.  After a miserable tune-up, Kuznetsova looked every bit the champion in the first round.  Moreover, with her back against the wall in the second round, Kuznetsova salvaged four match points against Andrea Petkovic to advance.  But, by the third round, Kuznetsova had utilized all her life lines.  She was taken down in three sets by Maria Kirilenko.

Victoria Azarenka, the 9th seed, has had a tough year.  The 2009 Sony Ericsson champ was schooled by Gisela Dulko, exiting in the first round.  But, in the next round, Dulko was herself stunned by South African qualifier Channelle Scheepers.  Scheepers reached the fourth round where she was stopped by Elena Dementieva.  Another surprise was Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, the winner in Rome, also going out in the first round.

As the newly re-minted number two and a finalist in Madrid, expectations were high that Venus Williams would at least make the semifinals.  In the first three rounds, Venus forged a statement not only with her attire, but with her play by bouncing her adversaries in straight sets.  Yet, in the round of 16, Venus’ game went through a transformation.  Although this was their first meeting on clay, Venus had a  4-0 record against Nadia Petrova.  Still, Petrova, a 2005 semifinalist, pulled off a straight sets victory.  As such, for the fourth consecutive year, Venus was booted prior to the quarterfinals.

A combination of rain and obscurity resulted in a few matches being played over two days. When Aravane Rezai and Petrova resumed their third round with the third set leveled at 7, the French crowd was disenchanted as Petrova walked away with the win.  Later that day, France’s last hope, Marion Bartoli, in the top half of the draw, was eliminated in the fourth round by Shahar Peer.

After fighting through Aleksandra Wozniak in the third round and an easy fourth round win, 2004 finalist Dementieva is unquestionably a contender for the finals.  Caroline Wozniacki, the third seed, is another.  Following two uncomplicated rounds, Wozniacki was severely tested by Alexandra Dulgheru and still captured her third match in straight sets. Then, in the round of 16, warrior Wozniacki bested Flavia Pennetta in a three hour duel to move on to her first quarterfinal in Paris.  Bothered by an ankle injury, as Wozniacki faces scrappy Fransceca Schiavone, who booted Kirilenko, she may need to duplicated her last performance

Turning to the top half of the draw, Serena cruised through her first and second round.  In the third round, a bout of dizziness almost derailed the world number one.  However, Serena stuck with it and defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.  In the fourth round, Serena battles Peer.  If Serena carries the match, she will meet either Samantha Stosur, a 2009 semifinalist, or Henin.

Although Henin has won her first two encounters in two sets, they were not calisthenics.  Despite staring down Maria Sharapova in the third round, for Henin, there is obvious room for improvement.  Therefore, Stosur who lost to Henin in Stuttgart recently may prove a hard kill.

Dinara Safina, a finalist the last two years, was halted in the first round by Kimiko Date-Krumm.  The 39 year old overcame injury and a colossal third set deficit to steal the victory from the former world number one.  By the next round, Date-Krumm’s tank was empty; she was given her pink slip by Jarmila Groth.  Groth continued to build on her success, she is in the round of 16 for the first time at a  major.  Groth will take on another newcomer to that stage Yaroslva Shvedova.  Subsequent to Aleysa Kleybanova thumping Ana Ivanovic in the second round, Shvedova surprised her in the third round. The prior round, 22 year old  Shvedova terminated Agnieszka Radwanska, the 8th seed.  As a result, either Groth or Shvedova will make her first quarterfinal appearance at a major against either Jelena Jankovic or Daniela Hantuchova.

Following a commanding first round match, Jankovic’s second and the third rounds required a lot more effort.  In the fourth round, Jankovic collides with Hantuchova who has yet to surrender a set.  Although their head to head is knotted at 3 apiece, Hantuchova captured both meetings this year and on clay.  Thus, if Hantuchova is mentally firm, she may disillusion her rival and reach her first French Open quarterfinal.

Five of the top ten women have survived through to the second week.  Of these, Serena is still the one with the greatest chance of seizing the trophy.  Regardless, Henin, the four time champion, may have a part to play in that outcome.  If these two progress to a quarterfinal meeting, Henin has the odds skewed in favor.  No disrespect meant to the rest of the field, but, such a match will decide the eventual owner of the trophy.

On Sunday, the 2010 French Open gets underway.  Before the first ball is struck at Roland Garros, here’s a taste of how the proceedings may unravel on the gentlemen’s side.

Since 2006, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer had made it a habit of contesting for the trophy on the final Sunday. Last year, Robin Soderling interrupted that cycle by ousting Nadal in the fourth round.  After descending a wee bit in the rankings, with a record three Masters clay court titles, Nadal returned to his familiar spot at number two this week.  Therefore, this sets up the possibility of a final featuring defending champion Federer and his old nemesis Nadal.

By far, Nadal has been the best clay court player this season.  As such, it’s almost a given penciling his name as a finalist.  In examining the draw, Nadal, the top seed in the bottom section, appears to have a green line through the round of 16.  In the quarterfinals, the Spaniard could see slight resistance from fellow countrymen Fernando Versdasco and Nicolas Almagro.  The latter in particular competed well against Nadal in Madrid.  Still, Nadal should pull through.

Also in the bottom half are Andy Roddick and Novak Djokovic, potential semifinal adversaries for Nadal.  Last year, Roddick had a career best showing in Paris by reaching the round of 16.  In the first round, Roddick takes on veteran Jarkko Nieminen, then, a possible third round match with Juan Monaco.  Hence, the American may say his goodbyes to Paris early. Assuming Roddick advances to the quarters, he could face the second best performer on clay this year, David Ferrer.  Considering that Roddick has not competed since the Sony Ericsson Open and with clay being his least successful surface, it hard to imagine Roddick progressing to the second week.

Despite a clay title and two other finals, Djokovic went down in the third round in 2009.  This year, Djokovic withdrew early in Serbia and his best result was the semifinals in Monte-Carlo. Consequently, for Djokovic, resting may be a blessing.  On the other hand, it could be a curse, not allowing the Serb to be clay fit.  With former French Open winner Juan Carlos Ferrero potentially as a third round opponent and Ferrer in the quarterfinals, the third seed could have his hands full before getting a crack at Nadal.

For the top seeds in the top half of the draw, Federer and Andy Murray, struggling has been the operative word lately.  Federer seems to have shaken off some of the cobwebs by advancing to the finals in Madrid.  Still, the proof will be how Federer fares against potential third round rivals Gael Monfils or Stanislas Wawrinka.  In the quarters, Federer may battle Robin Soderling over whom he triumphed in the finals last year.  Additionally, Ernests Gulbis and Albert Montanes brimming with belief after their victories over Federer in Rome and Estoril respectively as well as Marin Cilic, a youngster excelling with each major, could cause Federer’s downfall in the quarters.  In the semifinals, Federer may see the always dangerous Murray itching to avenge his Australian Open final defeat.  Alternate possibilities in the semis include Jo-Wilfried Tsonga who will have the home crowd behind him or Tomas Berdych who stopped Federer in Miami.  Needless to say, the world number one has a journey fraught with peril to the finals.

In the first round, Murray clashes with hometown favorite Richard Gasquet.  For Gasquet, it’s a golden opportunity to regain loss ground by vanquishing a vulnerable Murray.  Moreover, Murray’s round of 16 counterpart may be John Isner, a finalist in Serbia or Tomas Berdych a formidable rival especially after his great run in Miami.  Furthermore, in the quarters, both Mikhail Youzhny and Tsonga may present serious challenges for the Scot.

An impediment for Tsonga in the third round may be Thiemo De Bakker who stunned the Frenchman in Barcelona.  Later, in the round of 16, Tsonga could play either Tommy Robredo or Youzhny who are quite proficient on the red dust.

No matter how one dissects the draw, the outcome is advantage Nadal.   It’s simply difficult to conceive how Federer, Djokovic, Verdasco or Ferrer can halt the four time champion from capturing his fifth French title.

Today, the French Open draw was revealed.  Because Serena and Venus Williams are the top two seeds, the possibility of an all Williams final exists. However, with Justine Henin, a four time champion, a potential quarterfinal rival for Serena and Venus perhaps seeing Aravane Rezai or Nadia Petrova in the round of 16, the list of spoilers is extensive.  Here’s a snapshot of the likely key match-ups which may eventually determine the victor.

After months of being a spectator, Serena rejoined the tour in Rome where she reached the semifinals. Despite an early exit in singles in Madrid,  Serena got reacquainted with the surface by prevailing in doubles along with Venus.  Serena’s first obstacle would come in the form of Marion Bartoli in the round of 16 since she would play a denizen. Still, Serena’s biggest hindrance lies in the quarters.  Serena lost to Henin, the eventual champion, in 2003 and 2007.  On the other hand, that match may not materialize as Henin could battle Maria Sharapova in the third round.  Samantha Stosur, a semifinalist in 2009 and the titlist in Charleston this year, is another potential tough quarterfinal opponent for Serena.

Following Serena, Jelena Jankovic is the next highest seed in the top half of the draw.  With players such as Dinara Safina, Yanina Wickmayer and Vera Zvonareva returning from injury on Jankovic’s side of the draw, she should have an uneven full path to the quarters.  Agnieszka Radwanska or Ana Ivanovic could be Jankovic’s quarterfinal adversary.  Since her glorious days at Roland Garros in 2008, Ivanovic has slipped.  For the first time in months, Ivanovic showed true signs of life with a semifinal posting in Rome.  Perhaps it will take Paris to completely get Ivanovic out of her slump.

Venus Williams and defending champion Svetlana Kuznetsova flank the bottom half of the draw.  So far this year, Kuznetsova’s results have been mediocre. Consequently, for Kuznetsova, it is safe to deduce that a replay of 2009 is a long shot.  In the first round, Kuznetsova faces a difficult opponent, Sorana Cirstea.  Should she move on, Maria Kirilenko could upset her in the third round.  Li Na and Francesca Schiavone could trouble Kuznetsova in the round of 16.  Moreover, legitimate stumbling blocks in the quarters for Kuznetsova include Flavia Pennetta, Lucie Safarova, Alexandra Dulgheru and Caroline Wozniacki.

On the other hand, Wozniacki, the third seed, has been hampered by an ankle injury since Charleston.  For that reason, Wozniacki has failed to make an impact after winning in Ponte Vedra Beach.  In the third round, Wozniacki may see Dulgheru and Pennetta or Safarova in the fourth round. Considering the caliber of those rivals, it’s doubtful that Wozniacki has lasting power.

Elena Dementieva’s clay results have been abysmal.  In the second round, Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues could hand Dementieva another disappointment.  Down the road, Dementieva may encounter Victoria Azarenka or Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez in the round of 16.  With the latter’s shocking win over Jankovic in the finals of Rome, Dementieva will need to raise her game if she has aspirations of earning at least a quarterfinal spot.

For Venus, losing to Rezai in the finals in Madrid, was undoubtedly a setback.  Since reaching the finals in 2002, Venus has only gotten to the quarters in Paris.  In the first round, Venus will need to overcome veteran Patty Schnyder.  Then, Dominika Cibulkova, a semifinalist in 2009, could be a tricky third round opponent for the American.  Besides Petrova and Rezai in the round of 16, Azarenka, Dementieva and Martinez Sanchez lurk for Venus in the quarterfinals.

The European clay season has been chuck full of surprises. With the exception of Henin’s triumph in Stuttgart, unseeded but the conspicuous favorite, every top seed has been taken down in the finals by a much lower ranked competitor. Before retiring in 2008, Henin owned the clay at Roland Garros.  Despite her patchy performance the last couple of weeks, Henin’s experience gives her a huge edge over the field.  The same applies to Serena who seems to peak at the majors. The French have been hungry for a homegrown champion.  In 1983 year, when Yannick Noah hoisted the trophy, Rezai’s father visualized his daughter attaining similar success at Roland Garros.  Who knows, Rezai could be the novice who breaks out of the pack to steal the trophy in Paris.

In the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, defending champion and world number two, Rafael Nadal, prematurely set down his racket due to the sudden onset of a knee injury.  For several seasons, the 23 year old has been afflicted with one form of physical ailment or another.  After an extraordinary victory in 2008, last June, Nadal was unable to defend his title at Wimbledon due to tendonitis.  As an individual who has exhibited exemplary conduct both on and off the court, there’s a noticeable void when a player of Nadal’s caliber is absent.  Here are a few reasons why the game is better with Nadal.

With Andy Murray dominating from the very first stroke and only three games from a straight sets victory, there was little suspense as to the outcome of the quarterfinals. Still, with the Spaniard, there is often a sliver of hope for a comeback.  One of Nadal’s most admirable attribute is his inherent belief, regardless of the score, that he is not vanquished until the last ball is struck.  In Nadal’s psyche, there’s invariably that one shot which sparks the turning point in the match.  It’s hard to bet against a man who last year in Australia after a thrilling five hour and 20 minute, five set semifinal defeated Roger Federer after another five setter with less than 24 hour turnaround.

If one were to browse the dictionary for the definition of driven or relentless, it would not be shocking to discover a photograph of Nadal.  Whether in practice or in match situation, Nadal gives 1000% effort, a reflection of his perfectionist personality. There’s an ATP commercial which describes tennis players as “gladiators” on the pitch; perhaps no person epitomizes that description better than Nadal.  Each time he steps on the court it seems a duel to the death.

While Nadal’s all-encompassing dedication is laudable, the intense manner he approaches the game has taken a toll on his body.  Bouts of tendonitis in both knees have hampered Nadal’s movement.  With the nature of his game, it’s inevitable that these structures will be under recurrent stress. Therefore, even for an athlete as talented as Nadal, it becomes impossible to compensate.  One option could be for him to go on a lengthy sabbatical since resting is crucial for healing.  The down side would be that his ranking would suffer. Sometimes, one wishes Nadal could trade in his knees for new ones every so many miles as he does his tennis shoes.

The injuries are unfortunate because over the years Nadal has grown as a player.  He has incorporated different shots which have helped him succeed on surfaces other than clay.  In some respects, Nadal’s resume is more well-rounded and accomplished than Federer’s.  Nadal’s first major was at age 18 while Federer’s came at age 21.The Spaniard has an Olympic gold medal in singles and a couple of Davis Cup titles.  On the contrary, there’s been a sporadic commitment by the Swiss to the Davis Cup.

In an era dominated by Federer, Nadal’s most significant contribution is proving that there are many ways to triumph.  These two players have contrasting styles as well as differences in other areas.  Nadal is a lefty, Federer a righty. The former plays two handed on the backhand wing while the latter has a one handed stroke.  Federer moves as a quasi ballet dancer on court, Nadal more like a football player. But, there is common ground in that they are both passionate about their sport.

If there were an academy awards for tennis, it would be a gross oversight on Federer’s part not to thank Nadal for the last four years. Interestingly, their rivalry has been a two-way street.  Each has pushed the other to become the best competitor he can be.  With wins at both Wimbledon and Australia, Nadal has shown he is not a man for just one surface.

In addition, Nadal was required to validate Federer’s genius.  It’s safe to deduce if it were not for Nadal, Federer would have garnered a few more French Open titles and possibly achieved the calendar grand slam.  The tribulations that Federer has endured to obtain that up close and personal look at the Coupe des Mousquetaires surely makes Federer treasure it even more.

Since returning on tour after his French Open loss, Nadal has one win in 12 tries over top 10 adversaries.  After Australia, the Spaniard’s ranking has fallen to number four, his lowest since 2005.  As a proud champion, one wonders how long Nadal can sustain these blows without his confidence being shattered.  Humility aside, it is distressing after tasting success over and over to traverse such a crisis.

If the injuries limit Nadal’s career, we won’t miss the quirks.  Honestly, we can do without the rear end picking and the obsession with perfectly aligning the beverage bottles. However, it would be a shame if Nadal never got a healthy shot at carrying the only major he lacks, the U.S. Open.

Because no one is greater than the sport, tennis will survive with or without Nadal.  After all, Juan Martin Del Potro, Novak Djokovic and Murray are considered the wave of the future. Yet, Nadal is about their age, has already accomplished a lot and has the potential to do so much more.  Genius comes in many forms; Nadal’s gift has been utilizing his talent to the max.  Therefore, we hope that a Nadal with parts in good condition will be around for many years.

Written February 6, 2010

After one week of play, the cream of the ATP has risen to the top at the Australian Open.   Although some had a tougher road than others, eight of the top seeds are still in the hunt.  Here’s a look back at the tournament’s key moments to date.

In the first round, Igor Andreev’s forehand gave world number one Roger Federer all sorts of headache.  After stealing the first set, Andreev was just one forehand winner away from serving for a two set to one lead.  When Andreev’s shot sailed long, so did his opportunity at an upset.  Thereafter, Federer cruised through his matches.

Another difficult challenge lays ahead for Federer in the fourth round in Aussie Lleyton Hewitt who will have the support of the crowd.  Still, Federer is favored in that match.  Should Federer advance, his tasks gets more complicated since he could face Nikolay Davydenko in the quarters, a man who has beaten him their last two meetings.

While Fernando Verdasco, a semifinalist last year, struggled through his first round match then benefited from a retirement his last round;  Davydenko, his fourth round opponent, has been in peak form through three rounds.  If Davydenko moves on to the quarterfinals, Federer’s streak of 22 consecutive majors semifinal will be in serious jeopardy.

An astounding fatality in the first round was French Open finalist, Robin Soderling. Playing Marcel Granollers ranked 113, Soderling let a two set to none advantage evaporate.  Current U.S. Open champ Juan Martin Del Potro who has been dealing with a wrist injury also made an early exit. After defeating James Blake in a thrilling second round match, in the fourth round, Del Potro fought hard but came up short against Marin Cilic in another five setter.  Cilic who has now gotten to the quarterfinals in the last two majors will battle Andy Roddick.

Although Roddick has been pushed with each passing round, he’s had the answers.  After straight sets wins in rounds one and two, Roddick required four sets against Feliciano Lopez, then five versus Fernando Gonzalez, the Australian Open 2007 finalist and his coach’s former pupil. If Roddick aces the Cilic exam, it will be either Rafael Nadal or Andy Murray his next nemesis.

Despite minor blips, Nadal, the defending champion, has been in his best shape since the French Open loss.  After routine victories the first two rounds, Nadal needed four sets against Phillip Kohlschreiber and Ivo Karlovic who are higher caliber players.  Nadal will clash in the quarterfinals with Andy Murray. Thus far, Murray has come through without dropping a set. If their 2008 U.S. Open meeting is any indication, this quarterfinal duel will be a great one.

When Mikhail Youzhny retired in the third round, for Lukasz Kubot it became a good news and bad news scenario. For the first time, 27 year old Kubot made it to the fourth round at a major. To his chagrin, Novak Djokovic will be his subsequent adversary. It is unlikely that Kubot has any weapon that will trouble Djokovic.  However, the same does not apply to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga who could be Djokovic’s counterpart in the quarterfinal.  Tsonga leads their head to head 4-2.

For Tsonga, the 2008 Australian Open runner-up, the primary order of business will be taking care of Nicolas Almagro in the fourth round.  In the third round, Tsonga put down Tommy Haas.  With Almagro’s five titles all on clay, Tsonga is an overwhelming favorite in that match.  So a rematch of the 2008 Australian Open final may be one match away.

So who will be the eventual champion?  With their take no prisoners performance so far, Davydenko and Murray have the edge. However, of the guys remaining with a legitimate shot at the title, Davydenko is the only one who has yet to make it to the final of a major. Therefore, the riddle is whether Davydenko can defeat both Djokovic and Federer in a best of five match to reach the final.

For his part, Murray will have to knock out Nadal and possibly Roddick to get to the final.  The Scot has the talent, so Murray is hoping with the off season he exorcised last year’s majors demons.

Ultimately, it may be another case of those who’ve been there before hoisting the trophy again.  Thus, Federer obtaining his 16th major or Nadal his second straight Australian would not be unexpected.