Here are my predictions for the 129th playing of the Wimbledon Championships at the All-England Club, which begin tomorrow and last a “fortnight” (called two weeks in the U.S.).
Women’s singles:
I don’t want to do this , but I have to go with Serena. Serena is closing in on Steffi Graf’s record 22 Grand Slam titles–Serena’s at 20– and I don’t see any of the other women stopping her. Serena, to me, is a head case, but so are the rest of this group of women these days. There are injuries or general complaints reverberating throughout the women’s game. Serena may feel some pressure with another “Serena Slam” possible if she wins at Wimbledon. With a win at Wimbledon, she would have won the 2014 U.S. Open, the 2015 Australian and the 2015 French Open. This is just like the Tiger Woods’ entitlement slam that he got from 2000-2001. Just create a slam for Tiger and Serena even if they haven’t done it in a calendar year, which is what is authentic. Serena accomplished the first “Serena Slam,” in 2002-03, by winning the ’02 French title, the ’02 Wimbledon title, the ’02 U.S. Open title and the ’03 Australian Open title. Tiger accomplished his self and media anointed “Tiger Slam” in 2000-01 by winning the 2000 U.S. Open, the 2000 Open Championship, the 2000 PGA and the 2001 Masters. I still don’t buy it like a real calendar year Grand Slam. Only three other players have been able to win all four majors. Some woman named Brinker in 1953, Margaret Court in 1970, and Steffi Graf in 1988.
But regardless, I like Serena to beat lefty and No.2 seed Petra Kvitova from the Czech Republic (I’ll have to get my fact checker out at some point but wasn’t Czechoslovakia part of the movie “Stripes” fame? The U.S. troops got lost in Czech country and taken hostage by enemy troops because some ignorant lieutenant wanted to make a name for himself. This was the early 1980’s and this was communist country. Murray saved them with the “Urban Assault Vehicle,” a Winnebago with guns on it.
So Serena over Petra in an all diva final. Serena captures Slam 21 and will be aiming to tie Steffi at 22 at the U.S. Open in late August. Does she cave to the mounting pressure? I don’t think so. The competition is not good enough to overcome her. Serena’s a head case, but so is the rest of the field, and she’s by far the best player.
Women’s winner:
Serena over Kvitova in three sets
Men’s singles
On the men’s side I like Scotland’s Andy Murray to capture the Wimbledon title over Djoker. There is a story circulating that Novak Djokovic would look to coach Boris Becker on whether to make calls good or out. Could be pretty questionable and there should be a lot of questions for Djoker by the British press about this in the coming days. I really like Murray here. He won a week ago at the Aegon Championships on the grass of the Queens Club. Should be a stellar final. I like Murray in five sets. Both are in superior condition, but Murray’s momentum will be the key. Djoker is probably still trying to get over his loss in the French Open final to Stan Wawrinka.
Men’s Winner
Murray over Djoker in five
