Federer ready for Wimbledon title No. 6?
Who will win Wimbledon? Our experts make their picks.
Updated: June 19, 2008, 9:34 AM ET
ESPN.com
Roger Federer's crestfallen season was only amplified by an embarrassing loss in the French Open final. The Swiss, however, is the defending five-time Wimbledon champion, and if ever there is a time he'll amp his game up, it's at the All England Club.
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, though, are exuding confidence and appear closer than ever to dethroning the grass-court king.
So who wins? Our experts make their predictions.
| Wimbledon men's predictions | |||||
| Bonnie D. Ford ESPN.com tennis writer |
Greg Garber ESPN.com tennis writer |
Sandra Harwitt Florida-based tennis writer |
Ravi Ubha London-based tennis writer |
Matt Wilansky ESPN.com tennis editor |
|
| Early Exit | ![]() Grass is the only surface that seems to trip up Nikolay Davydenko. Will be hard-pressed to repeat career-best his fourth-round appearance here last year.
| ![]() David Ferrer is the No. 5 in the world, but he's leg-weary after Roland Garros and has advanced past the second round at Wimbledon only once.
| ![]() You hate voting against a great guy like James Blake, but Grand Slams are not his forte. He's never gone beyond the third round at Wimbledon, a surface his game should shine on.
| ![]() Nikolay Davydenko got to the fourth round in 2007, his best showing, then, decided not to play a grass-court tune-up this month. Enough said.
| ![]() Whether it's a limp knee, aggravating blister or simply malingering, Richard Gasquet has been mired in a dispirited season that's likely to persist through Wimbledon.
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| Sleeper | ![]() This 2006 quarterfinalist Mario Ancic -- the last man to beat Roger Federer at the All-England Club -- should return to the form he displayed here before illness and injury.
| ![]() His ranking has fallen to No. 25, but Marcos Baghdatis gave Federer a go last week in Halle, Germany (4-6, 4-6). He's energized under new coach Peter Lundgren. | ![]() A newly minted attorney, Mario Ancic was a Wimbledon quarterfinalist in '06 and semifinalist in '04. Court scene -- it won't be Ancic for the defense; he's a prosecutor at heart.
| ![]() He is reviving, reaching the quarterfinals in Halle last week. And in Marcos Baghdatis' previous two visits to Wimbledon, he's appeared in the semis and quarters.
| ![]() At 6-foot-10, the ace tracker will have its work cut out for imposing Ivo Karlovic, who's more than capable of encroaching on anyone's grass-court party.
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| Winner | ![]() This is the year. Rafael Nadal is healthy and playing confident, inspired tennis. That aura he has on clay courts is beginning to follow him elsewhere. | ![]() Reports of Roger Federer's demise are, to paraphrase Mark Twain, premature. Federer on grass=Nadal on clay=seal in water.
| ![]() He should've beaten Roger in last year's Wimbledon final. Rafael Nadal then blew Federer off the court in the French Open final. It's Rafa's year. Ole! Ole! Ole! | ![]() Rafael Nadal is oozing with confidence and a better player than last year, when he should have beaten Roger Federer in the final.
| ![]() He's already pronounced Roger Federer is on tenuous ground and he may be right. Expect Novak Djokovic to back his rhetoric with his racket.
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WIMBLEDON 2008
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ESPN Classic will replay Rafael Nadal's epic five-set victory over Roger Federer in the men's final on Monday at 7 p.m. ET.
• Bob Bryan beats brother Mike in mixed doubles
• Garber: Nadal muscles his way to championship
• Ubha: Top five Wimbledon finals
• Harwitt: Loss a microcosm of Federer's year
• Ubha: Wimbledon men's final instant analysis
• Bodo: Nadal shows plenty of courage
Day 13 • Women | Scores
• Garber: Venus finally stands up to little sister
• Ubha: Williamses match competitive and clean
• Garber: Borg the man in the middle
• Ubha: Wimbledon women's final instant analysis
• Who will win the Wimbledon men's singles final?
• Bodo: Five reasons Nadal can win
Day 12 • Men | Scores
• Garber: Best friends set to do battle again
• Harwitt: Coach-less Federer ready for title
• Ubha: Nadal clearly in Federer's head
• Who will win the Wimbledon women's final?
Day 11 • Men | Women | Scores
• Garber: Time is now for Nadal at Wimbledon
• Ubha: Top Williams sisters moments
• Grass Stains: Williamses ready for showdown
• Tennis.com: Rafa will win Wimbledon
Day 10 • Men | Scores
• Wimbledon women's court schedule troubles WTA
• Ubha: Federer serving lights out
• Nadal blog: Happy to get by Murray
• Garber: Venus is best grass-courter of generation
• Star Watch: Safin looking confident again
Day 9 • Women | Scores
• Garber: Williams sisters crushing opponents
• Ford: Ancic hoping to take care of Federer again
• Chip and Charge: Olympics taking center stage
• Ubha: Can Murray maintain momentum Day 8 • Men | Women | Scores
• Garber: Unpredictability in women's tennis
• Grass Stains: Valiant determination from Lopez
• Star Watch: Murray electifies hometown crowd Day 7 • Ford: Midway at Wimbledon report
• Ubha: Breaking down the final 16 in each bracket
See all stories from Week 1










