Centre Court has lost a lot of its glamour this year

FOR the first time this Millennium, the Women’s Singles draw lacks both of its biggest names.

Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova are absent for different reasons, but leave a big gap in the tournament.

I think if you asked someone in the street to name a woman tennis player, they would come up with either Williams or Sharapova. Only a tennis fan could name anyone else.

The Women’s Tennis Association probably see this as a positive in that the tournament is wide open. A new name is going to take centre stage.

I don’t see it that way. The public wants recognisable faces, and it is a big loss to Wimbledon that the two most-familiar faces are missing.

Good wishes, of course, to Serena on her pregnancy. That is wonderful for her, even if it took her slightly by surprise.

The Sharapova case is different. She is nursing an injury which put her out of the qualifying event. That’s unfortunate.

Whether she should have been denied a wild card entry is another matter.

Unlike many in the game, I believe the Russian should have been given a wild card at the French Open and at Wimbledon.

She served her ban for using illegal drugs, paid the price, and that should have been that. I don’t understand why offering Sharapova a wild card could have been seen as encouraging drug cheats.

I hope we have not seen the last of these two outstanding personalities at Wimbledon. It depends on whether they retain their hunger for the game.

Serena, I truly believe, will want another shot at Wimbledon because she loves competing on the big stage.

Before the pregnancy was confirmed, she was certainly planning to try for a seventh title win, which might have turned into a farewell party.

I think Serena will want to the chance to say ‘goodbye’ to Centre Court next year – but mothering instincts may prove too strong.

Wimbledon will certainly miss the glamour that Williams and Sharapova bring.

I’m not sure who can step up to supply the glitz, but let’s hope someone does.