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All roads lead to Wimbledon Centre Court
London, June 19: The Williams sisters and men`s top seeds Lleyton Hewitt and Andre Agassi have been practicing ahead of Wimbledon, which starts on Monday (June 23).
London, June 19: The Williams sisters and men's top seeds Lleyton Hewitt and Andre Agassi have been practicing ahead of Wimbledon, which starts on Monday (June 23).
The scene is set for the start of the 117th edition of Wimbledon, the oldest and one of the world's most famous tennis tournament.
The statue of Fred Perry, the Englishman who won three titles in a row from 1934 to 1936, adorns the main entrance of the immaculate surroundings in the west of London where the first tournament of the so-called open era was staged back in 1877.
On Wednesday (June 18), workers were applying the finishing touches for what promises to be two weeks of high quality tennis.
The final in the Centre Court is the ultimate destination that all competitors dream to be at. Lleyton Hewitt, who triumphed here in 2002, will have to survive a barrage from the biggest servers in tennis if he is to retain his title.
The Australian opens his defence on Monday (June 23) against a qualifier. Huge-serving Taylor Dent is a possible third round match-up while American Andy Roddick, the fastest server in the game, could await him further down the track.
One obstacle Hewitt will now avoid is former champion Richard Krajicek. The Dutchman was a potential second round opponent but withdrew with an elbow injury after Tuesday's draw.
World number one Andre Agassi, the second men's seed, plays British wild card Jamie Delgado in the first round and has Russian powerhouse Marat Safin in his quarter of the draw.
The experienced American, who practiced with another Russian, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, was eliminated last year by Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand. Agassi have been coached by Darren Cahill for a year and a half now. The 36 year-old was hopeful that his player could go all the way to meet his fellow Australian and top seeded Hewitt in what would be a first dream final.
"I would love to see a final between Lleyton and Andre because that would mean Andre is in the final and has a chance to win here again - and I think everyone would like to see that as well. The number one and two players don't get to play enough against each and it's because of men's tennis that we have so many upsets," Cahill said.
"So far this year they haven't played (against each other) but they are still number one and two in the world. It would be a great final but there many other players that can get to the final and win," Agassi's coach added.
At 33, Agassi seemed relaxed and totally focused as he tries to add another title after his only Wimbledon crown in 1992.
"He has a serious love of the game and you can't teach anybody that. He enjoys getting out every day and playing the game and testing himself and try to see if he can become a better player every day and that is something that is quite unique in a tennis player," Cahill said.
Tenth-seeded Tim Henman -- the home nation's great hope -- faces Spanish claycourt specialist Alex Corretja in the first round and is in the same quarter as Argentina's David Nalbandian, last year's runner-up, and Dutchman Martin Verkerk, beaten finalist at the 2003 French Open.
Henman was once again trying to cope with expectations of the local crowd who want to see their favourite player reach the final.
"Well, is not easy, I've been pretty close in the past but I think in simple terms you got to win seven matches against the best players in the world. I managed to win five in a row but never six or seven, so I just try to do that this year," Henman said.
The 28 year-old Briton added that his priority was to focus at his first round opponent.
"You don't look too much far ahead obviously. Corretja is a big name player and he has a lot of exeperience. He hasn't played so much on grass but he beat Sampras a couple of years ago in the Davis Cup, so I certainly won't take that too much lightly and I have to concentrate on that one first of all," Henman said.
Nicolas Escude was one of the clay court specialists trying to adapt to the different game on grass. The 27 year-old Frenchman will face qualifier in his first match but has been mentioned by Agassi's coach Cahill as one of the tournament's possible surprises.
In the women's draw, Serena Williams, the world number one and defending champion, and her sister Venus were kept out of the same half of the women's draw and could meet in a repeat of last year's final.
Serena and Venus Williams have ruled the roost at Wimbledon over the last three years and completely dominated the grand slam circuit in the 12 months preceding this year's French Open.
But Justine Henin-Hardenne's victory over Serena in the semi-finals at Roland Garros two weeks ago brought an end to the world number one's string of four consecutive grand slam titles -- all of which involved beating Venus in the finals.
Henin-Hardenne's win over Kim Clijsters in the Paris final also forced Venus Williams, winner of four grand slam titles, out of the top three.
The 21-year-old Serena will be fired up to retain her Wimbledon crown and reassert her authority over the pretenders and would undoubtedly relish a return grudge match with Henin-Hardenne whom she could meet in the semi-finals.
Elder sister Venus, 23, is looking further and further removed from the former world number one who two years ago won both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open for the second time.
Until last year the 23-year-old Venus was by far the more successful of the sisters.
Venus was the first of the two to win the grasscourt grand slam, beating Lindsay Davenport in 2000 before repeating the feat the following year by overcoming Henin in three sets, but her confidence appears to have crumbled while her younger sister's has soared.
At the practice courts, all eyes were on Maria Sharapova. The 16 year-old Russian received a wild card and will start her campaign against Ashley Harkleroad of the United States knowing that she needs to better on court than Anna Kournikova, with whom she has been compared to.
While workers were making sure that everything was ready for the thousands of spectators who will flock to London SW19 from Monday (June 23), organisers were busy training an army of officers as security has been strengthened for the tournament.
Fans who are unluckly or unable to find a court side ticket, would be able to follow the action from the giant screen in what has been dubbed as 'Henman Hill' because of the partisan crowd that follow England's biggest hope at Wimbledon.
Bureau Report
The Australian opens his defence on Monday (June 23) against a qualifier. Huge-serving Taylor Dent is a possible third round match-up while American Andy Roddick, the fastest server in the game, could await him further down the track.
One obstacle Hewitt will now avoid is former champion Richard Krajicek. The Dutchman was a potential second round opponent but withdrew with an elbow injury after Tuesday's draw.
World number one Andre Agassi, the second men's seed, plays British wild card Jamie Delgado in the first round and has Russian powerhouse Marat Safin in his quarter of the draw.
The experienced American, who practiced with another Russian, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, was eliminated last year by Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand. Agassi have been coached by Darren Cahill for a year and a half now. The 36 year-old was hopeful that his player could go all the way to meet his fellow Australian and top seeded Hewitt in what would be a first dream final.
"I would love to see a final between Lleyton and Andre because that would mean Andre is in the final and has a chance to win here again - and I think everyone would like to see that as well. The number one and two players don't get to play enough against each and it's because of men's tennis that we have so many upsets," Cahill said.
"So far this year they haven't played (against each other) but they are still number one and two in the world. It would be a great final but there many other players that can get to the final and win," Agassi's coach added.
At 33, Agassi seemed relaxed and totally focused as he tries to add another title after his only Wimbledon crown in 1992.
"He has a serious love of the game and you can't teach anybody that. He enjoys getting out every day and playing the game and testing himself and try to see if he can become a better player every day and that is something that is quite unique in a tennis player," Cahill said.
Tenth-seeded Tim Henman -- the home nation's great hope -- faces Spanish claycourt specialist Alex Corretja in the first round and is in the same quarter as Argentina's David Nalbandian, last year's runner-up, and Dutchman Martin Verkerk, beaten finalist at the 2003 French Open.
Henman was once again trying to cope with expectations of the local crowd who want to see their favourite player reach the final.
"Well, is not easy, I've been pretty close in the past but I think in simple terms you got to win seven matches against the best players in the world. I managed to win five in a row but never six or seven, so I just try to do that this year," Henman said.
The 28 year-old Briton added that his priority was to focus at his first round opponent.
"You don't look too much far ahead obviously. Corretja is a big name player and he has a lot of exeperience. He hasn't played so much on grass but he beat Sampras a couple of years ago in the Davis Cup, so I certainly won't take that too much lightly and I have to concentrate on that one first of all," Henman said.
Nicolas Escude was one of the clay court specialists trying to adapt to the different game on grass. The 27 year-old Frenchman will face qualifier in his first match but has been mentioned by Agassi's coach Cahill as one of the tournament's possible surprises.
In the women's draw, Serena Williams, the world number one and defending champion, and her sister Venus were kept out of the same half of the women's draw and could meet in a repeat of last year's final.
Serena and Venus Williams have ruled the roost at Wimbledon over the last three years and completely dominated the grand slam circuit in the 12 months preceding this year's French Open.
But Justine Henin-Hardenne's victory over Serena in the semi-finals at Roland Garros two weeks ago brought an end to the world number one's string of four consecutive grand slam titles -- all of which involved beating Venus in the finals.
Henin-Hardenne's win over Kim Clijsters in the Paris final also forced Venus Williams, winner of four grand slam titles, out of the top three.
The 21-year-old Serena will be fired up to retain her Wimbledon crown and reassert her authority over the pretenders and would undoubtedly relish a return grudge match with Henin-Hardenne whom she could meet in the semi-finals.
Elder sister Venus, 23, is looking further and further removed from the former world number one who two years ago won both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open for the second time.
Until last year the 23-year-old Venus was by far the more successful of the sisters.
Venus was the first of the two to win the grasscourt grand slam, beating Lindsay Davenport in 2000 before repeating the feat the following year by overcoming Henin in three sets, but her confidence appears to have crumbled while her younger sister's has soared.
At the practice courts, all eyes were on Maria Sharapova. The 16 year-old Russian received a wild card and will start her campaign against Ashley Harkleroad of the United States knowing that she needs to better on court than Anna Kournikova, with whom she has been compared to.
While workers were making sure that everything was ready for the thousands of spectators who will flock to London SW19 from Monday (June 23), organisers were busy training an army of officers as security has been strengthened for the tournament.
Fans who are unluckly or unable to find a court side ticket, would be able to follow the action from the giant screen in what has been dubbed as 'Henman Hill' because of the partisan crowd that follow England's biggest hope at Wimbledon.
Bureau Report