Breaking down the women's draw at Wimbledon

The first serve gets hit at Wimbledon tomorrow and it’s time to break down the draw. Make predictions, spot the winners, search for those dark horses, and go out on a limb and choose the early losers. The unpredicitability of the WTA Tour doesn’t help, but we’re going to give it a shot anyways.

Quarter 1 – Maria Sharapova comes into this year’s event as the world no. 1, top seed, regining French Open champion and the Russian will be aiming to reach the final weekend for a fourth time in the last five slams. Sharapova could have a tough time against Tsvetana Pironokova in the second round. The Bulgarian seems to come to life on the grass courts at SW 19, having reached the semi-finals in 2010 and the quarters last year. But barring a serving collapse by Sharapova, she should be able to come through that. 15th seed Sabine Lisicki, who rode her big serve into the semis last year, will provide some resistance in round four. But Lisicki has struggled this year and her first round against French Open breakthrough Petra Martic could mean danger.

Sharapova’s scheduled quarter final opponent is another German – Angelique Kerber. The left hander was ranked outside the top 100 before the US Open and has been on a roll since. Her 40 match wins on tour this year are the most by any player. Kerber coud meet another powerful left hander Ekaterina Makarova in the second round and the counterpunching young American Christina McHale in round three.

Also in this section is the blockbuster first round match betwen former world no. 1 Jelena Jankovic, seeded 18th, and the soon-to-be-retiring Kim Clijsters. If Clijsters can remain injury free, she could go deep as her section is devoid of any major threats. 12th seed Vera Zvonareva, struggling with shoulder problems, opens againt another German Mona Barthel, who has cooled off a bit since an explosive start to 2012.

Upset Alert – Kiim Clijsters to beat Jelena Jankovic in first round
Rookie to watch out for - the young American Sloane Stephens, whose intelligence on-court is matched by her intelliegnce off-court
Quarter-Final Prediction – Maria Sharapova vs. Angelique Kerber

Quarter 2 – It’s strange to find Agnieszka Radwanska as the top dog in this section. But the Pole has had a breakthrough season – climbing all the way to no. 3 in the rankings. But she is unlikely to reach her first slam semi-final this fortnight. She runs into the 5-time champion Venus Williams in the second round, who she beat in the same stage in Paris just a few weeks ago. But Venus will likely have too much grass court game for the Pole in London.

If Sjorgen-inflicted Venus can keep her energy levels up, she is in a good section of the draw to take advantage of. The other seeds in her road to a quarter final berth are no. 16 Flavia Pennetta, no. 20 Nadia Petrova and no. 27 Daniela Hantuchova.

In the other half of this section, US Open champion Samantha Stosur, seeded 5th, and former French Open champion Li Na, seeded 11th, are the big names. Stosur’s game does not translate well to grass and the Aussie is always marked out for an early exit in London. Li Na has been to the semi-finals here before and she will need to negotiate past the Romanian Sorana Cirstea in the second round and the Russian Maria Kirilenko in round three.

Upset Alert - Carla Suarez Navarro to beat Sam Stosur
Rookie to watch out for - British Heather Watson and the return from the wilderness American Melanie Oudin, who won the Birmingham event to end months of despair.
Veteran to watch one last time?? - Thai Tamarina Tanasugarn, who has been to the second week here a stunning seven times and who has the second most grass court wins among active WTA players
Quarter-Final Prediction – Venus Williams vs. Li Na

Quarter 3 – If defending champion Petra Kvitova, seeded 4th, and 4-time champion Serena Williams, seeded 6th, hold to their seedings, we could be in store for a mouth watering quarter-final. Kvitova should not have much trouble until the fourth round where she could meet the experienced Francesca Schiavone, one of the best volleyers in the game today, or the ponytailed Slovak Dominika Cibulkova, who is capable of playing tennis to match her drop-dead gorgeous looks.

Serena should easily make it to the third round where former semi-finalist Jie Zheng, seeded 25th could be awaiting. Her scheduled fourth round opponent is the French Open finalist Sara Errani. The Italian, seeded 10th, is marked out as another early upset victim.

Upset Alert - Laura Robson to beat Francesca Schiavone and Coco Vandeweghe to beat Sara Errani
One to watch out for - Kazakh Yaroslava Shvedova who reached the French Open quarter finals
Quarter Final Prediction – Petra Kvitova vs. Serena Willaims

Quarter 4 – After going 26 wins without a loss to start the year, Victoria Azarenka has been keeping a low profile. The shrieking Belarusian, could face the winner of the beauty contest between Ana Ivanovic and Julia Georges in the last 16. Seventh seed Caroline Woznicki is another player who has been struggling all year long and will need to start strong against the Austrian Tamira Paszek, who just won the Eastbourne title on Sunday and who was a quarter-finalist at Wimbledon last year.

With Marion Bartoli not making the French squad for the Olympics, the Frenchwoman will have double motivation to prove a point. Seeded 9th, Bartoli is in a good section of the draw with the former semi finalist Mirjana Lucic as a possible second round opponent and 21st seed Roberta Vinci in the third round.

Upset Alert - Tamira Paszek to beat Caroline Wozniacki
Rookie to watch out for - 16 year old Australian Ashleigh Barty
Veteran to watch one last time?? 42 year old Kimiko Date Krumm who almost knocked out Venus Williams last year
Also watch out for - former world no. 2 Svetlana Kuznetsova
Quarter-Final Prediction – Victoria Azarenka vs. Marion Bartoli

Semi-Final Prediction – Maria Sharapova to beat Li Na; Serena Williams to beat Marion Bartoli

Finals Prediction – Serena Williams to beat Maria Sharapova