Wimbledon 2009: Strawberry Fields Forever...

Strawberry season in merry old England...players in pristine white, dancing delicately on grass lawns contoured within painted lines, are applauded politely as they send bright yellow balls streaking through the air at excessive speeds.

It is Wimbledon. Tradition, history, and dreams of youth conquering the heroes of yesterday all settle in for a fortnight. Strawberries—forever the symbol of renewal, purity, and youth—provide sustenance for the dream-weavers populating the tournament in 2009.

The round of 16 awaits Monday. The drama is identical year after year, but the players change. Favorites have evolved as the tournament's progressed. Those entrenched in the top 10 are scrutinized for potential failure while the youngsters fight valiantly for a moment in the bright sun of Centre Court. 

Those left standing on Monday all share the vision of hoisting and parading the prestigious trophy as they skirt the ragged lawn during the ceremony crowning them champion next weekend.

The Ladies

The women’s game is filled with new names and teenage faces. The guard is changing and its new coat of arms is youth. Caroline Wozniacki, Sabine Lisicki, Melanie Oudin, and Victoria Azarenka are making waves at Wimbledon 2009 by advancing to the fourth round.

These are hard-working, hard-hitting, dedicated young players making their mark on the game this year—and, it appears, for years to come, barring injury. 

They face seasoned veterans longing for one more appearance, one more triumph on fabled Centre Court.

In the top half of the draw, expect seasoned Amelie Mauresmo to upset Dinara Safina.  Mauresmo has a brilliant grass game if she has the willpower to unleash it. Safina, admittedly, has no love for the surface and Mauresmo could send her packing.

Two teenagers face off with Caroline Wozniacki meeting Sabine Lisicki. They met earlier in the finals at Charleston on clay. Lisicki was serving accurately at a blistering pace and there was no stopping her. 

However, unless her serve is impervious and deadly on Monday, Wozniacki has the better grass court game and she should advance against her German rival.

Venus Williams must be given the nod over Ana Ivanovic on Monday with her superior and renowned skill on the grass. 

You must also pick Agnieszka Radwanska against the American teenage qualifier Melanie Oudin. Oudin has had an outstanding tournament, but it will end on Monday.

In the bottom half, Francesca Schiavone is playing excellent tennis, taking out Marion Bartoli. Expect her to defeat her French opponent Virginie Razzano. Elena Dementieva has also been playing and serving well. She should survive the contest with Elena Vesnina as long as her serve does not desert her.

Also expect sensational teen Victoria Azarenka to dispatch veteran Nadia Petrova and get ready to face Serena Williams who should have no trouble overcoming Daniela Hantuchova. The Azarenka-Williams quarterfinal should be one of the best in the tournament.

The Men

Unlike the ladies, the men have no teenagers in their midst, but the eternal struggle remains with the older, established players fighting back the rise of youth and the changing of the guard. 

Like the All-England Club itself, the establishment on the men’s side has deep roots, and they are not willing to go gently. 

In the upper half of the draw we remain firmly committed to Lleyton Hewitt’s rise from the ashes of obscurity. We see his ability to fight surpassing that of the enigmatic Radek Stepanek. 

We also believe that Andy Roddick will survive 20-year-old Tomas Berdych because it is generally held that Berdych cannot muster two great matches in a row. 

The world expects Andy Murray to send his friend Stan Wawrinka home. We will be on hand to wave goodbye to the No. 2 Swiss. Stan will, however, give a good accounting of himself. He has been known to press Murray, but probably not here on grass.

Moreover, Gilles Simon will end the Juan Carlos Ferrero run. Simon is due. He has played so poorly all year on clay and at the majors. The man has a game and he needs to display it in full force on Monday.

The oldest guy in the tournament, Tommy Haas, will continue his fight in the quarterfinals after he dispatches Igor Andreev, and Novak Djokovic should not have many problems with the surprising Dudi Sela. It has been a great run, Dudi, but the end is in sight.

You have to give the edge to big-serving Ivo Karlovic. Verdasco may be prettier but not many can stand up against Karlovic who—if his serve is on—cannot be broken. It is a tall task for Verdasco, and we don’t think he is up to it.

The tennis gods have decreed that Roger Federer will defeat the man who took out Rafael Nadal at the French Open—and who faced Roger in the finals of the French—Robin Soderling. Federer simply has too many weapons against Soderling on grass. This assumes that Federer will, however, be serving his best.

So as the crowds gather daily to watch history being made and to participate in the pageant that is Wimbledon, the final eight in each draw will be revealed at the end of the day on Monday. 

We wait with bated breath to find out who will stand on Championship Saturday and Sunday to do battle and win the 2009 Wimbledon crown. Will Roger win No. 6? Will Venus win No. 6?  

Will Pete Sampras be on hand to offer the mighty Swiss congratulations upon securing his 15th Grand Slam Championship? Stay tuned...