SW34 is TENNIS.com's Wimbledon blog that will provide on-site news, insight and commentary about a pair of legendary 34-year-olds, Roger Federer and Serena Williams, as they look to once again triumph at the All England Club.
WIMBLEDON, England—Three quick thoughts on Serena Williams' draw:
No matter which qualifier Williams faces in the opening round, it’ll be someone ranked outside the Top 100. Like James Ward facing Novak Djokovic, Williams’ opponent will be likely more focused on enjoying the chance to soak in a small part of history, more so than disturbing Williams’ chances of making it.
Williams almost always encounters an early challenge at the majors, and this one will be no different. In the second round, she could face fellow American Christina McHale, who gave Williams a three-set run for her money in Miami earlier this year. Then there’s the even-more dangerous Kristina Mladenovic, possibly awaiting in the third round. At Roland Garros, Mladenovic engaged the world No. 1 in a tiebreaker for the ages—although Williams ultimately prevailed, 6-4, 7-6 (10). The Frenchwoman is no stranger to upsetting top seeds in the early rounds of majors, having beaten second-seeded Li Na in Paris in 2014, and sixth-seeded Eugenie Bouchard in Paris last year.
Further down the road, Petra Kvitova, a two-time Wimbledon champion, could meet Williams in the semifinals. But Kvitova has been struggling mightily this year, having reached just one semifinal. It’s more likely that if Williams gets through her first six obstacles, she’ll face the stiffest opposition of all—her Paris conqueror, Garbine Muguruza—in the final. Muguruza was shaky on grass in Mallorca, dropping out in the first round. Wimbledon is different, of course, and Muguruza reached the final there last year. She lost to Williams, who that day won her 21st Grand Slam singles title. Number 22 is hers to lose this year.