Wimbledon 2012 Predictions: Projecting Venus and Serena Williams Tournament Runs

It's safe to say the Williams sisters have a bad taste left in their mouths after last year's Wimbledon.

Serena Williams was ousted in the fourth round of the 2011 tournament, fresh off a year-long absence from the sport. The adversity that she faced coming off foot surgeries and a threatening blood clot in her lungs made her departure more understandable than her losses in years past, but there's no doubt that she's hungry to right her wrongs and get back to winning majors. 

Venus was also knocked out in the fourth round by Tsvetana Pironkova, the second straight year she was defeated by Pironkova at Wimbledon.

As if their individual performances aren't reason enough for us to tune in, it looks like they've broken their two-year hiatus from doubles and have entered to be doubles partners at Wimbledon.

Both Williams sisters are no strangers to Wimbledon success. They've won a combined nine singles titles since 2000 and have won the doubles title four times in that span.

Let's predict how this year's Wimbledon will fare for the Williams sisters.

Serena Williams - Singles

We saw Serena bounce back from some scary medical issues in 2011. Despite the aforementioned struggles in the 2011 Wimbledon, she won two titles and finished with a 22-3 record that culminated in a U.S. Open finals loss. 

After defeating No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki in the U.S. Open semifinals, she proved that her best days of tennis may not be as fleeting as we once assumed and that she can still take down the best players. 

She comes in as a clear favorite to advance to the semifinals in this tournament, and rightfully so. She's the only single-digit seed in her group, and nobody will stop her from reaching the semifinals. 

Williams should then face No. 2 seed Victoria Azarenka in the semis after Azarenka knocks out the struggling Wozniacki. Fortunately for Serena, she has Azarenka's number after a decisive victory over her in the U.S. Open last year.

Azarenka is coming off an Australian Open victory earlier this season, but Williams wants it more and should advance to the final after a grueling matchup. 

After that, Williams will face a test that she won't be able to pass in the final. Top-seeded Maria Sharapova is too much right now for Williams, and Sharapova is younger and quicker than Serena.

Projection: Loss in Final to (1) Maria Sharapova

Venus Williams - Singles

The Wimbledon draw this year didn't do Venus Williams any favors.

She's drawn a grueling second-round matchup with the No. 3 seed, Agnieszka Radwanska, who defeated her in the same round 6-2, 6-3 in the French Open just weeks ago. The chances of Williams figuring out Radwanska enough to turn her fate around are minimal.

Despite having won five Wimbledon titles in her career, Venus is practically a non-factor in this year's tournament. Her road is far too bumpy to get past all of the adversity and top talent in front of her. She still may not be entirely healthy after a slew of health problems in the past year.

Williams should give Radwanska a good fight. Venus' success at Wimbledon and her familiarity with the environment and the level of play should give her opponent a scare, but it won't keep the better tennis player from advancing. 

Projection: Loss in Second Round to (3) Agnieszka Radwanska

Venus and Serena - Doubles

After a two-year absence from playing doubles together, the Williams sisters are getting back to the portion of tennis that they dominated since the new millennium. 

Because of their time off from playing doubles, they enter as an un-seeded duo, but don't expect anyone to discount the sisters' prowess in the competition. 

Their biggest competition will be between fellow Americans Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond. They're the top seed in doubles, but are far from a dynastic power in doubles after being ousted in the first round at the 2012 French Open. 

It's hard to assume that two sisters—who happen to be two of the best tennis players of all time—have much rust in their game, as they undoubtedly spend tons of time on the court together. 

After knocking out Huber and Raymond in the quarterfinals, the Williams sisters should have little trouble getting back to where they left off—winning Grand Slam doubles titles. 

Projection: Win Womens' Doubles Title