Serena will stand in Kvitova’s way

WE’VE talked about a fairytale final in the men’s singles and it looks likely there will be one in the women’s competition too, although for very different reasons.

Petra Kvitova has had the season of her career, with five tournament wins, and she looks one of the great favourites to win here. Sure, there was that withdrawal from Eastbourne, but I don’t see that as any more than a precaution.

What she went through with the knife attack was truly horrible but, in a strange way, it seems to have taken the pressure off. In the past, tennis might have been life or death, but that’s been put into perspective by what happened. Now, she takes on to the court the attitude that “this is just a tennis match”. That doesn’t reduce her desire to win. All it does is remove the weight of expectation and she seems to be playing freely.

The one caveat is that she occasionally struggles in the heat, but I think she can cope with the English summer.

Then there is Serena Williams, coming back following the birth of her daughter and being ranked 183rd in the world.

That ranking means nothing: this is Serena.

Is she the greatest of all time? I don’t think you can compare across generations but, whatever her place in history, she’s the favourite, with Petra just behind — but only just.