White skirts, strawberries, begin...

Sam Stosur prepares to serve at the Family Circle Cup

Justine Henin-Hardenne practices in Charleston

Monday marks the first day of the 2006 Championships at Wimbledon. The Grand Slam on grass, always made more interesting by rain interruptions, is the favorite of many tennis fans (not this fan, though it is the one that got me started--I was in London when the great Evonne Goolagong won her first Wimbledon). The Brits do not award equal prize money to men and women; in fact, they don't even give equal per diem money to men and women. However, they did bother to give the officials new Ralph Lauren uniforms.

This year, for the first time, Web viewers can buy either an all-access pass or day passes to watch streaming video of matches.

Neither Lindsay Daveport nor Mary Pierce will be there; both are sidelined with injury. This is especially sad for Davenport and her fans. In 2004, she was leading in her semifinal against Maria Sharapova. There was a rain delay, and during that time out, Davenport underwent an emotional slump, suddenly feeling all the fatigue and stress of her long time on the road. Her husband rallied her to go on, but when she returned after the lengthy delay, Sharapova took over and won the match. She also went on to win the tournament.

Last year, Davenport made it to the final and lost in a thrilling, high-quality, heartbreaking match against Venus Williams. It was the longest women's final in Wimbledon history, and Williams took it, 4-6, 7-6, 9-7. I was depressed for days. To make matters worse, Davenport had somewhat of a physical breakdown during the 2005 Australian Open final, and in the 2004 U.S. Open, she became injured while playing (and losing) her semifinal against Svetlana Kuznetsova, who went on to win the tournament. She has come so close to winning another Grand Slam during the past few years, but nothing has gone her way.

Players to watch:

Eleni Daniilidou
The Greek player is as streaky as you can get, but on grass, she shines, and her serve-and-volley game can be dangerous. She just reached the semifinals at Ordina, and last year, she took out Justine Henin-Hardenne in the first round of Wimbledon.

Mara Santangelo
Santangelo is another serve-and-volley player whose game should be at its best at Wimbledon. I'm not sure why Santangelo hasn't done better in grass tournaments.

Katarina Srebotnik
Another player who can volley like mad and could do some real damage to players seeded higher.

Samantha Stosur
"Slammin' Sam," number one in the world in doubles, has a wonderful serve, is a great volleyer and is a lot of fun to watch. But, as people have pointed out, Stosur is at her best when she is defending, and given a chance to take control of a match, she tends to flub. Here's hoping that won't happen next week; Stosur is one of the biggest delights on the tour.

Players to seriously watch:

Amelie Mauresmo
World number one Mauresmo had her usual crash-out at the French Open, and she was knocked out of the second round at Eastbourne this week. But never mind that. Her biggest nemesis at Wimbledon, where she has reached the semifinals the last few years, has been Serena Williams (their 2004 match was one of the best women's matches I've seen this decade), and Williams won't be there this year. Though she is an all-surface player, grass is Mauresmo's best surface by far.

Maria Sharapova
Sharapova won Wimbledon in 2004, became a household name, and hasn't won a Slam since. But grass is her surface, and she is surely very hungry to win again. Last year, she lost her semifinal against eventual winner Venus Williams (the mutual screaming was more than I could take). Sharapova has a great second serve and is mentally tough. Like Serena Williams, she can find amazing shots when she needs them.

Justine Henin-Hardenne
She may be the Clay Court Queen, and Wimbledon may be the only Grand Slam she hasn't won (she was a the finalist in 2001), but she is to be feared on any surface. When Henin-Hardenne is on, she's very difficult to beat, though it can be done. Some think that her post-virus physical fragility will prevent her from playing her best after her full two weeks' work at the French Open, but I think differently.

Kim Clijsters
Clijsters has been complaining of never feeling physically right anymore, and clay season was really hard on her body. A grass court gives her muscles a rest, however, and since she is one of the speediest women on the tour, the fast pace of grass suits her game well. Clijsters does have meltdowns from time to time, but if she is up, she is a threat to take the tournament.

Martina Hingis
Because her game is still the best one to watch on the women's tour. And if--and only if--she doesn't have to use that joke of a second serve, she is a contender.

Venus Williams
The defending champion and three-time Wimbledon winner. Say no more.