Serena Williams
Second seed Serena Williams
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Thursday, 18, Jun 2009 12:09
Date of birth: 26/09/1981 (Age: 27).
Nationality: American
Height: 5ft 9in
Weight: 150lbs
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Turned professional: 1995
Current ATP singles ranking: 2
Best Wimbledon performance: Winner (2) - 2002, 2003
Grass court pedigree
Having rewritten the rules of the modern women's game along with sister Venus, Serena Williams has styled a game made for grass with a serve often considered to be the best on the WTA Tour.
A finalist last year and in 2004, Serena holds two Wimbledon titles (2002 and 2003) - contrary to popular opinion, however, her success on grass is more due to her versatility than the undoubted power which many have tried to emulate.
Strong at the net, her backhand produces winners from any area of the court.
Her main weakness is the high-risk nature of her shotmaking, which can produce periods of sustained errors.
Wimbledon seeding: 2nd
Chances of SW19 success?
Those who write the Williams sisters off do so at risk of embarrassment.
Measuring either's form over a season is pointless when considering their championship prospects. They are like no other athletes - if they arrive at Wimbledon fit, they should be considered amongst the favourites irrespective of the year's results.
This is due to excellent conditioning work but also an unassailable big-game mentality. That is not to say turning up is enough for Serena to win, yet the sisters maintain an aura of excellence at their favourite grand slam which seems to defeat lesser opponents before they have even played.
If Serena wants it badly enough this year, her only major threat may be Venus.
Serena returned to form this year after winning the Australian Open in January, defeating current number one Dinara Safina. Only a right knee injury earlier in the year cast a shadow over an otherwise strong 2009.
Prediction: Finalist
Last year Serena was beaten by Venus in the Wimbledon final in straight sets. Having met in seven grand slam finals, expect a minimum of a semi-final clash between the sisters dependening on the draw.
At 27 and with ten grand slams to her name, Serena looks set for the final. The early retirement of Justine Henin has left her and Venus facing many one-dimensional powerhitters at the top of the women's tour.
And as the woman who co-invented the modern power game with her sibling, her complete tennis will mean she fears none of the other baseliners.
Marcus Dubois