Wimbledon Women's Singles Finals 2019: The Aggressor and the Counter-Puncher

Ten years ago, Kimiko Date-Krumm returned to competitive tennis at the tender age of 38 and she was able to reach the 1R of the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

Passing the age of 40, she was able to reach as deep as the 3R in the slams.

This year, at the tender age of 37, Serena Williams is aiming to win her 24th grand slam title as she gets into the finals of Wimbledon.

How times have changed!

If a player just takes care of her body and hires a team that can do it for her - then a female tennis player can have a long career - marriage and kids and all!

I feel this is an important victory for Serena Williams because it will give hope to Mommy athletes of all sports to not give up and continue to compete.

It has been done in track and field where Mommies have won gold after giving birth.

I guess tennis, is the next frontier.

Her opponent, Simona Halep, is no spring chicken either, and at 27, is reaching a mental maturity and quiet confidence that I've never seen before.

Halep has not been much of a factor on grass till this year. I am very surprised that she reached the final - and if she wins - she may be doing something right in her approach to the game.

It's going to be a suspenseful game because while Serena is very aggressive, Simona, like many of the great counter punchers before her - Jelena Jankovic, Kim Clijsters - can chase the ball and make Serena work for one more point - and movement is always an issue with Serena.

Either way, their victories will be a good way for Wimbledon 2019 darling Coco Gauff to reflect on her path to tennis greatness.

Would she want immediate wins that may cause her career to be shortened - or have a long illustrious career like Serena - with a billionaire husband and a beautiful baby girl.

Who says women can't have it all?

Wimbledon 2019: The Legendary Three Continue to Blaze A Trail With Bautista Agut

We are living in an incredible age in men's tennis when three disparate rivals have made mincemeat of the rest of the field.

When I was growing up, the idea of having 14 grand slam titles (c/o Pete Sampras), was mind-boggling enough.

But in a span of a decade, three men have done what was supposed to be a difficult feat (it still is - they just make it look easy) and they had to fight with each other as well, just to win a slam!

I don't know for how long this dominance will last. Conservatively, I put it at the next five years - and yes, it's very possible that Federer's 20 grand slam titles will be erased - either by him or Rafa or Novak.

That is of course, unless one of the younger guys narrow the evidently wide chasm that separates them and the legendary three.

As for now, at Wimbledon 2019, add Roberto Bautista Agut to the three other men (Tsitsipas, Pouille, Thiem) who have reached the semifinal stage of a grand slam this year.

Does he have a fair chance to win this title? I guess it's all in his mind and his feet, because he'll be running and running and returning balls like he has never done from his other opponents.

And he has to defeat Novak tonight, and come back to defeat either Rafa or Roger.

It's like dealing with the Williams sisters during their heydays. It's almost impossible to defeat both of them in one slam. You may win against one sister in one round, but you may have to deal with an equally stronger sister in the next round (I don't know if someone ever did it).

On paper, it should be a Novak - Roger final, following their pedigree on this surface - but we never know how hungry Rafa is for another grass title. And Bautista Agut has to play his 110% if he wants to keep up with the wily Novak.

As for me, I will just lie on my lazy-boy and keep my supply of popcorn going while they play in an up-and-down struggle to win three sets.

The golden age of men's tennis continues.....

Wimbledon 2019: The Final Four in the Women's Singles

For the first time in a long time, three of my four picks made it into the last four - in the women's game!

Serena Williams, Elina Svitolina and Simona Halep are in the the Wimbledon SFs, as I predicted - well, not really, I just used the head-to-head.

In the men's game, it is easier to predict the final four because the big three are pretty consistent, but in the women's game - it's almost a free for all every grand slam nowadays - but this Wimbledon - the stars aligned somehow and only Petra Kvitova did not make the final four - only to be replaced by another Czech player - the tenacious Barbora Strycova.

Based on their performances, Serena Williams looks set to raise her eighth Wimbledon singles crown. She looked very tentative last week but in her last two matches, we saw the old Serena back.

Alison Riske gave a spirited performance - and almost won - but Serena scored at the right moments - and with her powerful service, she can score free points. I think her strong first serves should be there when she plays, otherwise, the title will be a big if!

I am very happy for Elina Svitolina as well. As usual, she started very shaky, but soon found her form to defeat Karolina Muchova. I still have doubts though about her mental state because once she gets nervous, her game falls apart.

And her opponent, Simona Halep is one tough cookie! And Simona has been in this situation many times - and failed! However, during her fourth try, she finally won her first grand slam. Yun lang, it's in Paris - and grass is so different from clay.

Anyhow, for me, she's the only player among the ones left who can really hurt Serena. Simona is a wonderful counter puncher. I just hope that she plans more aggressive moves if she wants to win this title.

Barbora Strycova is the oldest woman to have reached a grand slam semifinal A testimony for the young Coco Gauff to just enjoy her teenage years and take it easy.

Coco Gauff, who spectacularly reached the 4th round at a tender age of 15, wants to join more tournaments but nowadays the WTA is very strict with teenagers. They do not want them to burn out early in their careers.

And Strycova's case shows that women who get more experience, can have long careers in tennis.

If Serena wins this, it will be very big for athlete-mothers - because it will show younger women that it is possible to be a mother of a baby and be at the top of one's sport!

Good thing with tennis is that these women are all millionaires - so they can hire all the assistance they need when they have to travel and compete - and well, Serena's husband is a billionaire - so she can travel on private jets with her baby to all her tournaments.

Nevertheless, it keeps the sport exciting - and allows all the players to blossom at different times of their career.

In other words, even if you are past 30 and a female tennis player - it doesn't mean you cannot play the sport you love anymore.

As for me, I love all these four women - although if I were to pick a winner, I want Elina Svitolina to finally win her first grand slam title.

It would be great for her Instagram followers like me - and nothing like some tennis romance (with Gael Monfils) to show that you can balance love and sports - at the same time!

My Picks for the 2019 Men's Wimbledon Champion: Milos Raonic

Now that last year's finalist Kevin Anderson has been eliminated tonight, Milos Raonic steps forward as the player most likely to get the semifinal slot in his side of the draw.

Among the four left (Bautista Agut, Pella, and Paire) he's the one with the best record here in Wimbledon - one final, one semifinal, and two QFs - and if he wins over Pella, he'll be in his 3rd consecutive QFs.

On paper, he is the player to beat on his side of the draw.

Can he reach the final? Well, he has to win over Novak Djokovic, who is the top pick on his side of the draw, and if he wins over Novak, either Rafa or Roger awaits for him in the final.

It is a big ask for anyone outside the top 3 to win a grand slam. You'd have to defeat two of the legendary top 3 at the same tournament - or just pray that some inspired lower ranked player eliminates them.

Otherwise, you'd have to have the gumption to defeat one after another in a span of 3 days.

Milos has a lot of work waiting for him if he wants to win his first ever grand slam title.

My Picks for the 2019 Women's Wimbledon Champion: Simona Halep

Simona Halep is not usually a name you'd associate with Wimbledon but she's had success here before with a semi-final appearance in 2014.

She is also very lucky with the draw she got this year, since most of her supposedly tough opponents have gone by the wayside.

She, however, has a tough 3R match against another grand slam winner, Victoria Azarenka, and this match will decide the player who will likely get the semi-final slot in this side of the draw.

And whoever wins here might have a chance to show Cori Gauff how a recent grand slam champion plays at today's level.

The truth is if Cori Gauff wins over Hercog and then either of these two, she should be in her first grand slam final!

Anyway, for now, on paper, Simona is the player to beat. She should meet Elina Svitolina in the semi's and a possible encounter with Serena or Petra in the finals.

Whatever happens, if she shows the world she can also play on grass, then the title can be hers.

My Picks for the 2019 Women's Wimbledon Champion: Elina Svitolina

Elina Svitolina is still looking for that breakthrough slam that would make her name a household one worldwide.

Well, that is arguable because she is a household name in France because of her boyfriend, Gael Monfils, and not because of her tennis, which is a shame because she's so talented.

In the women's tennis world, she has already stamped her mark, winning last year's WTA Tour championship.

However, it is frustrating to see her play in the grand slams because she is usually very lucky with her draw but she has not done enough to take advantage of it.

It happens again here in Wimbledon 2019 where her the most likely toughest opponent in her draw is Karolina Pliskova, who is still an unknown quantity on grass, even though she is a former world #1 player.

If these two women don't step up, Danielle Collins and Karolina Muchova look ready to snatch that semifinal slot from them.

Anyhow, on paper, Elina is the woman to beat on her side of the draw. She should meet Simona Halep in the semifinals - yet another unknown quantity on grass.

In the finals, either Serena or Petra Kvitova may await.

This is really Elina's best chance to finally be in a grand slam semifinal.

My Picks for the 2019 Wimbledon Women's Title: Petra Kvitova

I am just happy to see Petra Kvitova back in the mix of things again. She's had a great year, getting into the finals in Melbourne, losing to Naomi Osaka.

She did not play in Paris so her lack of match play may be a problem. However, based on the head-to-head, she is the player to beat in her side of the draw.

She's now set to meet Polish player Magda Linette in the 3R. A tricky player but someone she should be able to beat on grass.

Johanna Konta may be her most tough opponent along with Barbora Strycova, Then in the semifinals, Serena or Ash Barty are looming while in the finals, Halep or Svitolina are the favorites.

This year's tournament is a good time for her to win Wimbledon title #3. I will be rooting for her since she's one of my favorites. I love how she uses her power in the court, and when she's on, she's breathtaking to watch.

My Picks for the 2019 Women's Wimbledon Title: Serena Williams

The draw Serena got for Wimbledon 2019 is one of the toughest I've seen in a while.

It had seven grand slam winners in it, three of them, Wimbledon title holders, and that includes today's player du jour, Ashleigh Barty.

Luckily though, even with that tough field, the queen of them all, Serena Williams, is the pick to win the semifinal slot of that side of the draw.

Only problem is, Serena lacks match play and that was very apparent in her first two matches. The scoreline she got with players ranked #133 and #161 were very un-Serena like. In the 1R, Gatto-Monticone took her to 75 in the 2nd set while in the 2R, Juvan took her to 3 sets!

She will meet fellow American Lauren Davis next who disposed off Angelique Kerber, so Davis' confidence is up there right now.

If she gets through that, she may have to beat Ashleigh Barty to get the semifinal slot in this side of the draw.

Her most likely SF opponent would be Petra Kvitova and then in the finals, possibly Svitolina or Halep. That would be the easy part since both women are non-entities on grass, not yet anyway.

We'll see in the fortnight if Serena can push through deep even without much match play.

My Picks for 2019 Men's Wimbledon Champion: Roger Federer

I think Roger Federer's decision to compete in the French Open was a good thing for him.

He was slumping lately (at his very high standards, a fourth round is a slump), and needed to shake things up.

So a semi-final appearance in Paris last month was just the boost to the confidence he needed, and although he was drubbed by Nadal, there really is no shame losing to Rafa on clay. Rafa is just head and shoulders above everyone else on clay. That is his gift.

But Wimbledon is grass and this is where Roger has made 8 inroads to a title, the most by any man.

Once again, Nadal and Novak are the ones most likely keeping him away from title #9.

In his side of the draw, Roger is the pick to top it with Kei Nishikori and Lucas Pouille as possible spoilers, if they do meet.

If the stars align, he may have to defeat Nadal (SFs) and Novak (finals), if he wants title #9.

At the rate he's playing and with his renewed confidence, it just might happen.

My Picks for the 2019 Men's Wimbledon Title: Rafael Nadal

I am still relishing the amazing route Rafael Nadal had when he won his 12th Roland Garros title.

I wouldn't be surprised if he goes all the way here in SW19, because he's firing on all cylinders and that has been greatly helped by the draw that he is in.

Sam Querrey took care of Dominic Thiem in the 1R so the draw has opened up for the lower-ranked players.

He does have a favorite nemesis looming in the horizon, but Fabio Fognini has never been a factor in grass so I think Nadal should be able to handle him fine in this surface.

He handled Kyrgios deftly last night and meets Tsonga in the 3R. He may have to handle the Brit crowd if Daniel Evans reaches the 4R.

I am sure everyone is rooting for another Nadal-Federer rematch here, this time in the SFs.

I am sure Federer is aiming for that after that embarrassing drubbing in Paris. Revenge time for him.

Anyhow, if Nadal reaches the finals, Novak is the most likely opponent.

My Picks for the 2019 Men's Wimbledon Title: Kevin Anderson

In the head-to-heads, South African Kevin Anderson, last year's Wimbledon finalist, is the pick to reach the semifinal slot of his side of the draw - a side that has fairly opened because Alexander Zverev crashed out in the first round.

However, 2019 has been an iffy year for Anderson in the grand slams, a 2R in Melbourne and absent in Paris last month, so I'm not really sure if he's battle ready for something as tough as Wimbledon.

The list of players he may meet is particularly tough since they are what I call, the grinding players which means they have some weapons that can hurt a top player - Tipsarevic is next then Pella, Raonic and Bautista Agut are possible opponents.

Novak should await in the semi's and possibly Federer in the final.

But that is still a long way off. However, this is a side of the men's draw that one could say could be a free for all!

My Picks for the 2019 Men's Wimbledon Title: Novak Djokovic

A strange thing has happened in the first two rounds of Wimbledon 2019. All the second tier players, the ones supposedly next in line to the big three have all crashed out of Wimbledon!

Tsitsipas, Thiem and Alexander Zverev have made it a bit easier for Djokovic, Nadal and Anderson to make it to the last four. Roger still has Kei Nishikori in his side of the draw.

As for Novak, the place in the finals next Saturday is all in his racquet. I just hope he doesn't look at his draw and relax. His most tough opponent would be in the semifinals and that would possibly be Kevin Anderson, his nemesis in the finals last year.

Otherwise, his possible opponents include Medvedev and Hurkacz, who are not top 10 players.

My biggest worry for him though is this new Canadian player named Auger-Aliassime whom he may meet in the 4R. This is the first time I have heard of this guy and he seems very relaxed on the court. Out of nowhere he now ranks #21!

I think he's the guy Novak should watch out for if they do meet. Auger-Aliassime is an unknown quantity - and usually these are the ones who spoil the party.