Serena targets eighth title as Federer goes in search of his 21st grand slam

Courier Sport picks out five potential talking points of the upcoming All England Club Championships.

A STEP TOO FAR FOR SERENA?

Even by Serena Williams’ Herculean standards, an eighth Wimbledon singles title is surely beyond her this year. Williams will head to the All England Club having made an impressive comeback following the birth of her first child. However, she was forced to withdraw prior to her French Open fourth-round clash with Maria Sharapova with an arm injury. All eyes will be on the American as she seeks to seal what would be one of the greatest sporting comebacks of all time.

ROGER TO REIGN AGAIN?

While his “Fab Four” rivals limp and scrap their way back to the All England Club, Federer sails imperiously on in search of a 21st grand slam crown. At the age of 36, the Swiss superstar is playing some of the best tennis of his career and will start as favourite to add another title, with key rivals Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray all going through various phases of recuperation from injuries.

EDMUND TO EMERGE?

For once, Andy Murray will not be the Briton to watch at Wimbledon this year. In the first phase of his come back after a yearlongabsence with a hip injury, the S cot has withdrawn from the tournament after deciding a grand slam challenge was too much to ask. Edmund, who has usurped Murray as British No 1, has proved his pedigree among the elite since reaching this year’ s Australian Open semi-final, and it would be no surprise to see him stick around deep into the second week.

WITHDRAW AT YOUR PERIL

Watch for withdrawals. After a spate of disappointing injury withdrawals last year, Wimbledon has adopted a system which was first tested at the Australian Open in January. Under the system, any player who withdraws prior to a firstround match will receive half of their prize money. But those who play and are subsequently deemed to have underperformed due to a pre-existing issue run the risk of being fined 100% of their purse.

HALEP’S RISE TO CONTINUE?

Serena apart, the position of the sport’s dominant female player has been rendered vacant in recent years but there are signs Simona Halep could fit the bill. The feisty Romanian finally made her grand slam breakthrough at this year’s French Open and though her game is evidently better suited to clay, she has reached two successive quarter-finals at the All England Club and could well kick off a dominant spell in the game by following up her Roland Garros success in double-quick fashion.

Kyle Edmund is the new British No 1 after Andy Murray’s injury woes.