Maria Kirilenko faces Sloan Stephens in the first round of Wimbledon 2014

     This could be a very interesting Wimbledon 2014.  I actually have Sharapova v Wozniacki in the finals.  Whoa........slow done before you say.... 'are nuts? Sharapova I might get but Woziniacki?'

     Wozniacki's draw plays right into her game especially after coming off a pretty good outing in Eastbourne where she finally lost to Angelique Kerber in the Semi's.  Wozniacki had Kerber on the ropes and let her off the hook in a second set tiebreak after jumping to a 6-1, 2-0 lead.  That isn't why Wozniacki is one of my favorites to make the final however.  She is playing well and her draw plays right into her hands.

     Wozniacki plays a fading Peer in the first round and Babos in the second round.  Who? you say? ok well it could be Broady!  Yeah, ok she's easily to the third round where Stouser will likely be waiting.  They are 1-1 on grass and 3-3 lifetime but Caroline won the last time they faced each other and the last time they faced each other on grass and Stouser is not playing well at this time.  Caroline should get by Stouser.

     Li, Na likely will be next and Li is 4-2 against Wozniacki so this could be where Caroline stumbles but I don't think so this time.  Once again Caroline is playing a lot better lately and had some good results on grass.  She's and Rory are both playing better since they split, although I hated to see the breakup.  Li, like Wozniacki lost in the first round of the French open and hasn't played since.  She hasn't played any grass tournaments this spring.  I don't think Li will be ready for all the extra balls Caroline will get back.

     Kvitova and Radwanska will likely be her quarter and semi-final opponents.  Kvitova just won't be able to get enough balls back on the fast grass surface.  Kvitova will have to hit a lot of clean winners to beat Caroline.  The same is true for Radwanska.  Caroline will just outlast Radwanska on the grass.

     The bottom half of the draw is pretty wide open.  Vandeweghe could go a long way after just winning her first WTA title; on the grass too.  Radwanska went to the final last year and could again this year. Stouser can always step up her game and don't forget what Kirilenko did last year making the semi-finals although she does have Stephens in the first round and is coming back from an injury.  Then, of course, there is Li and Kvitova who is a past champion.  Wozniacki however may have just the right draw on just the right surface to make her second run to a Grand Slam Final.

     The top half of the draw is loaded and any number of players that could make the final.  Certainly either Halep or Jankovic will come out of the bottom quarter of the top half of the draw.  There are some tough players and some potential entertaining matches yet the draw seems to favor Halep and Jankovic.  Keys is playing well and just won Eastbourne and is destined to meet Jankovic in the 3rd round but Keys so easily can run off the rails.  Then you never know what Ivanovic will do.  I don't see how it can be anyone but Halep and Jankovic in the quarter-finals

     The top quarter is crazy and probably holds the Wimbledon champion; S.Williams, Sharapova or Bouchard would all be favored against Jankovic or Halep and my pick in the final; Wozniacki.  Any of the three would be favored in the final against anyone in the bottom half with the lone exception of Li.

     Williams has one of the toughest draws I've ever seen her have in a Grand Slam in several years.  Tatishvili in the first round won't be a push-over.  McHale or Scheepers will at least let her know she played a second round match.  Then Cornet probably shows followed by Bouchard.  I think by the time Bouchard comes along Serena will be running low on gas and Bouchard should move to the semi's against Sharapova.

     Sharapova has it a little easier.  She has a wildcard in the first round, probably Fichman in the second round.  I'm picking Riske to pick up where she left off last year and be there for Sharapova in the third round but won't cause to many problems for Maria.  Tomjanovic or Kerber will be the fourth round opponent but again I don't think either one will much of a problem for Maria.  Bouchard or Williams in the Semi's.  I think Bouchard will have a tougher time with Maria on the grass compared to the match they played at the French which was quite the match.  If Serena shows, I'll just move my prediction to the fact that she played to many tough players to beat Maria.  Maria finally will get Serena and once again it will be on the grass.

     I will add that if Serena does face Jankovic in the semi-finals, I still don't think Serena will make the final.  Nobody plays Serena as well as Jankovic despite what the recent record may say and after playing Cornet, Bouchard and Sharapova back to back to back it may be the perfect opportunity for Jankovic.  That all depends on Jelena getting there.

     In the end I do like Sharapova to win it all, then Williams followed by Wozniacki, Li and Bouchard.  Radwanska, Halep and Jankovic are players to watch.  Vandeweghe and Keys will also be players to watch but this stage will be too much for them.