The editors and writers of TENNIS.com preview Saturday's Wimbledon ladies' final—and offer their picks.
(3) Agnieszka Radwanska vs. (6) Serena Williams
—Head to Head: Williams leads 2-0
What Radwanska must do to win
Hope Serena is missing her first serve. Williams is coming off a record-setting 24-ace semifinal performance and has hit 85 aces in six wins. For Radwanska to get into rallies, she must see some second serves. The third seed must use her finesse, ability to alter pace, and clever court sense to play some drop shots and sharp angles, and try to drag the speedy Serena to net for chances at passing shots.
What Williams must do to win
Impose her ferocious serve, superior power, and big-match presence early. The four-time champ owns an immense edge in all these categories, particularly experience—Serena is 13-4 in major finals; this is Radwanska's first—and will want to burst out of the blocks quickly. Serena needs to unleash her explosive shotmaking to make Radwanska retrieve and force her to play catch-up from the start.
Picks:
Peter Bodo, Senior Writer: Williams
With Serena serving bushels of aces and Radwanska short both on power and wingspan, it’s hard to imagine the first-time Wimbledon finalist putting up much resistance in this one.
Ed McGrogan, Online Editor: Williams
Serena may be just as due for a major title as Roger Federer is. Given what happened at the 2011 U.S. Open, she’s not a stone-cold lock, but her serve and return are most effective on Centre Court.
Richard Pagliaro, Senior Editor: Williams
Serena has hit a combined 37 aces with zero double faults in successive sweeps of Grand Slam champions; her explosive serve, superior power and court coverage give her a decisive edge.
Stephen Tignor, Senior Writer: Williams
Radwanska deserves to celebrate reaching her first major final, but she won’t be celebrating after she meets an in-form Serena Williams—a Serena who hit 24 aces in her semifinal.
Join TENNIS.com senior editor Richard Pagliaro for live coverage at 9 a.m. EST on Saturday, July 7.