Wimbledon: The Next Grand Slam of the Year

The defending champions: Roger Federer and Serena Williams

Of the four Grand Slams played each year, two are already over; the Australian Open and the recently concluded French Open or the Roland Garros.

Wimbledon, the third Grand Slam, begins 23 June later this month that will continue till 7 July 2013. The tournament is played on the lush green grass courts of Wimbledon and is taken as most prestigious of all the Grand Slams and other tennis tournaments.

In play since 1877, the tournaments has five main events, and the number of players (or teams, in the case of doubles) are:
Gentlemen's Singles (128)
Ladies' Singles (128)
Gentlemen's Doubles (64)
Ladies' Doubles (64)
Mixed Doubles (64)

For 2013, the list of 128 players for the men's singles event is already out and the top 10 ranking players participating in Wimbledon this year are:

Novak Djokovic (SRB)
Andy Murray (GBR)
Roger Federer (SUI)
David Ferrer (ESP)
Rafael Nadal (ESP)
Tomas Berdych (CZE)
Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG)
Jo Wilfried Tsonga (FRA)
Richard Gasquet (FRA)
Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI)

This year, Roger Federer of Switzerland will be defending his title, which he won against Andy Murray of Britain last year 4–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–4. If Roger Federer wins the tile this year too, he will outscore Pete Sampras seven title wins and that of William Renshaw of seven titles before the 1968 era.

In the women single's event, Serena Williams of USA will defend her title which she won against Polish Agnieszka Radwańska 6–1, 5–7, 6–2 and robbed a chance for Radwanska to win a Grand Slam for her country since it was last won  in 1939. Serena won her fifth Wimbledon title last year and has a long way to equal Helen Wills eight titles before 1968 era and nine by Martina Navratilova thereafter. Serena has been in finals for seven times.

Britain which once dominated the Wimbledon, has not won since Fred Perry's last win in 136. In fact Fred won consecutive three times from 1934-36. It was Andy Murray who tried his luck in the final of 2012, the first British player in finals since Fred's last 1936, but lost to Federer 4–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–4.

Although Andy Murray won the Olympics gold medal against Federer in London Olympics 2012, the British drought at Wimbledon continues since 1936.

Of the present top seeded players, Roger Federer has won the title seven times, including last year's, followed by twice by Nadal and once by Djokovic.

Let us watch the Wimbledon that commences in about ten days time and see whether Andy Murray gets to clinch the title from Federer to be the first British since 1937 or Federer claims it for the record eighth time, before he is too old for it.

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