Sisters in Search of Magic

Once again the women's tournament looks to be the Williams sisters against the rest of the world. Between them, they have won six of the eight Wimbledon championships played this millennium. This suggests that the pair should be heavy odds-on. Instead, you can get 3-1 the second favorite, Serena, and 8-1 the fourth favorite, Venus.

Certainly, they have little recognized form. Venus has done no better than a semi-final in Bangalore this year, but that has not prevented her succeeding in the past. Asked if it was as easy as it looked just to show up and win, the four-time champion laughed and said she had a magic button which she pressed every year.

The rest of the world's side is heavily dependent on Serbia. Remarkably the world's number one and two, also Wimbledon's number one and two seeds, are from there. 'What we have achieved for such a small country is amazing, especially with our financial status,' said Jelena Jankovic, the number two. 'Now we have made it, hopefully we will motivate the younger kids and inspire them. Hopefully we'll have better facilities in the future to help the younger generations develop their games, so they don't have to go to other countries to train.'

The number one, Ana Ivanovic, won the French Open after growing up in Switzerland; Novak Djokovic, the men's number three, won the Australian Open having been fine-tuned in Germany; and those who look to symmetry believe Jankovic, who went to the US, can be the third Serb to win a grand slam in successive tournaments.

Jankovic was at the Bollettieri academy at the same time as Maria Sharapova. 'I remember that we were so skinny,' Jankovic said. 'We were young, very, very small girls. We were all fighting against each other - we all wanted to win. It was a big battle, a lot of competition.'

So was the French Open and she was ill after it - 'I was sick for 10 days' - although she is in rude health now and has her game up and ready. 'It's very important, the first two shots - the serve and return - and who gets the first strike.' To win, she may have to defeat Venus in the quarter-finals, Sharapova in the semi-finals and Ivanovic in the final. A tough hat-trick.

Ivanovic has been on a high since winning her grand slam, becoming number one and meeting the Serbian president. 'I think I have very, very powerful shot, so my game suits grass well. But there are some things I have to improve. I'm trying to come also more forward, play some volleys, which is very helpful here.'

Asked about the favourites, she mentioned the Williams sisters and Sharapova. Her path is potentially easier, although a semi-final against Serena may have to be negotiated.

The bookies' favorite is Sharapova, who has lost twice in the semi-finals and once in the fourth round since her victory in 2004. After this year's French Open defeat to Dinara Safina, she took an unscheduled holiday. 'I went back home and gave my body and mind a little rest,' Sharapova said. 'I have to be smart about scheduling. Within 24 hours of my loss, I was in a local café with a cook book.' She favors Italian recipes.

'I think I saw an interview of myself after I won Wimbledon. I was so excited. This little innocent girl. It was really funny.' Now more mature, she is 2-1 against to beat her main threats: 'Obviously, the Williamses and the two Serb girls.'