The Wimbledon 2009 officially starts its main draw matches today with last year’s runner-up Roger Federer playing at the Center Court against Taipei’s Yen-Hsun Lu. Traditionally, it would be the defending champion who’ll play the first match at the Center Court but 2008 champ Rafael Nadal announced on Friday that he’s pulling out of the grasscourt Slam because of knee injury.
The absence of the world number one in the men’s side basically made the draw more interesting with betting sites reporting that Federer is becoming the strongest favorite to win his sixth title at the All England Club. However, the Swiss player should not be complacent because home favorite Andy Murray is gaining as much support to hoist the trophy for Great Britain.
In the women’s side, bookmakers stated that two-time defending champion Venus Williams is the top pick. Not far behind is her younger sister and two-time champion Serena Williams. Analysts have said that Venus should have gotten the top seeding in the tournament considering her seven final appearances for this decade alone – winning five of them. Wimbledon organizers are known for tweaking the seeding based on the player’s record at this grasscourt Slam. Despite this, a Williams-Williams final is still a great possibility since the sisters are placed in the opposite sides of the draw.
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