Wimbledon Odds 2012: Doubters Will Drive Serena Williams to 5th Wimbledon Title

Serena Williams is at her best when she's driven, and the whispers and suggestions of retirement are supplying that drive.

Oddshark.com has Serena and French Open champion Maria Sharapova as the favorites, at 11/4 odds.

I would certainly echo those odds, for several reasons: the grass surface has always been one of Serena's best surfaces, if not her best. She's won Wimbledon four times already, so this is an arena she's had tremendous success in.

But perhaps the biggest factor is motivation.

Serena's approach to the game has been different from most top professionals on the tour. She generally doesn't play as many tournaments as the others, basically playing the grand slams, and their preceding tune-ups.

If she were more active, I believe she'd be ranked No. 1 in the world, or at least in the top three. The women's game is simply void of any dominant presence to keep her from that status. 

Because of her decreased playing schedule, I believe her on-court focus is affected at times. That won't be the case at Wimbledon.

In response to rumors that she and her sister Venus Williams may be considering retirement, Serena told Leo Schlink of Herald Sun:

"

"I have no intention of stopping, and I don't think she (Venus) does either. We're definitely connected at the hip...

I enjoy being out there on the court so much.

I love competing. I love the challenge. I love holding up trophies. So I guess if ever I feel that I can't do that, then maybe I won't play anymore." 

"

Serena is such a fierce competitor, I have no doubt that those rumors or questions will cause her to come out locked in at Wimbledon. When she's on her game, she's still the most dominant player in the world.

Serena has at least one more grand slam title in her, and it'll come at Wimbledon this year.

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