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That was an interesting and candid admission from a player that normally forces others choke in big moments. There are no issues with Serena's game overall. She can serve her way out of trouble when necessary, and when fit, covers the court like no one else.
If you want to know about Serena's will to win, ask Nadia Petrova, when she was up a set and serving for the match in the Australian Open, and an out of shape Williams came back and won.
If she is going to go down in a major before the semi's it usually is within the first three rounds.
Venus Williams
The reigning Wimbledon champion hopes to defend her title and has to be one of the favorites. Her results in past tournaments can't be used as a gauge because she seems to transform herself on the grass.
Venus, with her five Wimbledon titles, can lay claim to being the best grass court player of her time. Her willingness to force the action and finish points at the net is an advantage on this surface.
Her serve and forehand have been known to breakdown during matches, but she has enough firepower to over-come that. The other women on tour need to take a page out of Venus' book if they want to be successful on this surface.
Most of the women on tour are content to bang away from the baseline until the point is over, but if it is not working on a particular day you are at an immediate disadvantage if you are uncomfortable at net.
Not only is Venus a contender, but I would install her as the favorite.
Svetlana Kuznetsova
Kuznetsova is brimming with confidence after winning the French Open. The knock on her was that she didn't come through in the big spots against the best players.
That doesn't seem to be an issue any more as she seemed more mentally up to the challenge than Serena Williams was in their semi-final match in the French.
She is a good athlete and moves around the court well. When she is playing with confidence she is able to overwhelm her opponents with her ground strokes. Kuznetsova is equally dangerous with the back hand and forehand, and not afraid to go for her shots.
If she is physically and mentally on her game, she can win her third major here. She has all the tools and doesn't want to take a step back.
Definitely a contender.
Maria Sharapova
Sharapova made a good showing at the French, coming back after her shoulder injury. She did better than most thought she would.
She probably needs more court time to get all the way back, but the main thing for her is to make progress and not get hurt again. Her serve, if working, is capable of dominating, but the question is where is she with her fitness and movement.
Sharapova can be beaten if you make her move, and she is not willing to come forward. She has won this tournament before, so at least at the outset you have to take her seriously.
She is in a pretty favorable part of the draw, along with Serena Williams, Lucie Safarova, and Victoria Azarenka, so if she gets past the first couple of rounds it could get interesting.
Jelana Jankovic
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