- Sportsmail’s tennis guru Brad Gilbert tells you the 10 women to watch
- Top seed Serena Williams is going for part three of a calendar Grand Slam
- Grass is pretty much tailor-made for defending champion Petra Kvitova
- The Wimbledon Championships get under way on Monday
By
Brad Gilbert for the Daily Mail
Published:
22:17 GMT, 28 June 2015
|
Updated:
22:55 GMT, 28 June 2015
Sportsmail’s tennis guru Brad Gilbert gives his expert analysis on the 10 women to watch as the Wimbledon Championships get under way at the All England Club on Monday.
SERENA WILLIAMS
Age: 33 (US)
Seeded: 1
Last year: R3
She’s the first to win the first two Slams of the year since Jennifer Capriati in 2001. How to topple her? Attack the second serve and take advantage of a mental dip. But she is still the best in the game.

Top seed Serena Williams pictured at Aorangi Park on Sunday as she prepares for her opening match
MADISON KEYS
Age: 20 (US)
Seeded: 21
Last year: R3
Of all the talented players emerging she is the one who could make it right to the top. I am surprised she is not closer now. She has arguably the best serve after Serena and has real weapons.

American Madison Keys could make it right to the top of the game with her array of weapons
MARIA SHARAPOVA
Age: 28 (Rus)
Seeded: 4
Last year: R4
Incredible that she won in 2004 and has reached just one final since. I think she is one who will really benefit from the extra week’s preparation on grass. Look out for that great backhand.

Russian Maria Sharapova warms up ahead of her practice session at Wimbledon on Sunday
SIMONA HALEP
Age: 23 (Rom)
Seeded: 3
Last year: SF
It was surprising that she bombed out in the second round in Paris. She is less visible here and I think she can play outstandingly on grass. Probably the best mover in the game.

Romanian Simona Halep can play outstandingly on grass and is probably the best mover in the game
ANA IVANOVIC
Age: 27 (Ser)
Seeded: 7
Last year: R3
Looking a lot happier on and off the court. A lot depends on how her serve is going. Likes to dominate from the middle of the court.

Serbian seventh seed Ana Ivanovic hits on the practice courts ahead of her Wimbledon campaign
EKATERINA MAKAROVA
Age: 27 (Rus)
Seeded: 8
Last year: QF
One of three left-handers in the top eight seeds, she likes to dictate the points and play offensively, has an underrated serve and hits it flat.

Russian Ekaterina Makarova is one of three left-handers in the top eight seeds in the ladies’ singles
PETRA KVITOVA
Age: 25 (Cz)
Seeded: 2
Last year: Won
Grass is pretty much tailor-made for the Czech and her brand of ‘first strike’ tennis, as we saw last year. If there are weaknesses it is her movement and an occasional lack of self-belief.

Defending champion Petra Kvitova prepares to go for her third Wimbledon title this year
EUGENIE BOUCHARD
Age: 21 (Can)
Seeded: 12
Last year: Runner-up
Her record this year is not pretty. She has lost a bit of that swagger. A run of wins could flick the switch again but had an injury worry at Eastbourne.

Canadian Eugenie Bouchard has struggled on the tour this year and had an injury scare at Eastbourne
LUCIE SAFAROVA
Age: 28 (Cz)
Seeded: 6
Last year: SF
A left-handed late bloomer, she also plays doubles extremely well and so has a good all-court game with more spin on her forehand than backhand.

French Open runner-up Lucie Safarova, the Czech sixth seed, has a good all-court game
CAROLINE WOZNIACKI
Age: 24 (Den)
Seeded: 5
Last year: R4
She arrives here with her ranking around its best for six years. An excellent, durable athlete whose strength is her backhand, she ought to have done better here over her career.

Dane Caroline Wozniacki is seeded fifth for this year’s Wimbledon Championships
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