Greg's Wimbledon Predictions...

I know, I know. So many of you have stopped whatever you were doing today and wondered: "Gee, why hasn't Greg posted his Wimbledon predictions yet?" Right? It has consumed you!

OK, I really should stop sniffing glue when I blog. But the fact is, that wonderous sporting event called Wimbledon got underway in London today. As a teenager and well into my 20s, I would build my schedule around watching as many of the matches on television as possible. In 1991, I made my first trip to the tournament and was so escited that the night before, I did not sleep a single wink. So after a full day at the tournament, I kept falling asleep in the tube (subway) station on the way back to my friend Lorna's flat in East Finchley! I went every other day for about 10 days and it is one of the best memories of my life - especially when Lorna and I scored 10th row seats on Centre Court one memorable day.

I still follow the toiurnament but have not been back to the Wimbledon grounds in more than 10 years. One of my BFF's, Henry, is there this week and he is the biggest Roger Federer fan there is. So I am rooting for Roger because it will make Henry so happy and also because Roger is a class act who deserves to win.

But that does not mean I think Roger will win. He has won 60 consecutive matches on grass and not lost at Wimbledon since 2002 but I think his streak consecutive titles will end at five. The reason? Rafael Nadal.
Roger has beaten Rafael in the last two Wimbledon finals but Nadal has gotten closer each time. At 22, he has constantly improved his game and won his first grass court tournament a few weeks ago in london just seven days after giving Federer one of the worst defeats of his career in the fionals of the French Open.

Rafael is ready to step up and win this time. But if he falters before getting to the final, Federer will likely win. Still, he must also contend with the only other two players very capable of winning: Novak Djokovic and Andy Roddick.

As for the women, it's pretty amazing that either Venus or Serena Williams has been champion in six of the last eight years. Venus, a four-time winner, is defending champion but I think this is Serena's year to win again. It would be her third Wimbledon singles title. That being said, I'd love to see 31-year-old Lyndsay Davenport, back on tour after having a baby last year, win her second Wimbledon.