Women to watch at Wimbledon, which begins Monday:
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SERENA WILLIAMS
Ranked: 1
Age: 34
Women to watch at Wimbledon, which begins Monday:
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SERENA WILLIAMS
Ranked: 1
Age: 34
Country: United States
2016 Match Record: 24-4
2016 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 70
Major Titles: 21 " Wimbledon ('02, '03, '09, '10, '12, '15), U.S. Open ('99, '02, '08, '12, '13, '14), Australian Open ('03, '05, '07, '09, '10, '15), French Open ('02, '13, '15)
Last 5 Wimbledons: '15-Won Championship, '14-Lost in 3rd Round, '13-4th, '12-W, '11-4th
Topspin: Since winning Wimbledon a year ago for her fourth consecutive major title and self-styled Serena Slam, moving within one of Steffi Graf's Open-era record of 22, has not added to the total, losing in the semifinals at the U.S. Open, the final at the Australian Open, and the final at the French Open. ... As usual, did not enter any grass-court tuneup tournaments after playing on the red clay of the French Open before heading to the All England Club.
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GARBINE MUGURUZA
Ranked: 2
Age: 22
Country: Spain
2016 Match Record: 22-10
2016 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 3
Major Titles: 1 " French Open ('16)
Last 5 Wimbledons: '15-F, '14-1st, '13-2nd, '12-Did Not Play, '11-DNP
Topspin: Showed she could be tennis' "Next Big Thing" by reaching Wimbledon final a year ago before losing to Serena Williams, then broke through for her first Grand Slam title by beating Williams this month in the final at Roland Garros. ... Plays a fearless, big-stroke game, full of flat groundstrokes. ... Not shy about saying she plans to add more major trophies to her collection.
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AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA
Ranked: 3
Age: 27
Country: Poland
2016 Match Record: 26-9
2016 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 18
Major Titles: 0 " Best: F, at Wimbledon ('12)
Last 5 Wimbledons: '15-SF, '14-4th, '13-SF, '12-F, '11-2nd
Topspin: Her varied game, filled with all sorts of slices and spins and speeds, can fluster opponents on grass courts. ... Since 2008, has been the runner-up at Wimbledon, reached the semifinals two other times, and the quarterfinals another two years. ... With a semifinal appearance at the Australian Open in January, has made it that far at a major tournament at least once each season for the past five years.
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VENUS WILLIAMS
Ranked: 9
Age: 36
Country: United States
2016 Match Record: 12-7
2016 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 49
Major Titles: 7 " Wimbledon ('00, '01, '05, '07, '08), U.S. Open ('00, '01)
Last 5 Wimbledons: '15-4th, '14-3rd, '13-DNP, '12-1st, '11-4th
Topspin: After reaching the final at the All England Club eight times in a 10-year span, including earning five championships, has made only one quarterfinal appearance in the past half-dozen years. ... Used to be owner of one of the top serves on tour, but so far this season she has 35 percent more double-faults (74) than aces (55). ... Because of No. 6 Victoria Azarenka's withdrawal, Williams moved up one spot to No. 8 in the seedings, making her the oldest top-eight seed at a major since Martina Navratilova, 37, at Wimbledon in 1994.
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MADISON KEYS
Ranked: 10
Age: 21
Country: United States
2016 Match Record: 22-7
2016 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 2
Major Titles: 0 " Best: SF, at Australian Open ('15)
Last 5 Wimbledons: '15-QF, '14-3rd, '13-3rd, '12-DNP, '11-DNP
Topspin: Title on grass at Birmingham, England, this month helped her break into the top 10 in the WTA rankings for the first time. ... First American woman to make her debut in the top 10 since all the way back in April 1999, when a player by the name of Serena Williams first climbed that high.
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PETRA KVITOVA
Ranked: 11
Age: 26
Country: Czech Republic
2016 Match Record: 15-14
2016 Singles Titles: 0
Career Singles Titles: 17
Major Titles: 2 " Wimbledon ('11, '14)
Last 5 Wimbledons: '15-3rd, '14-W, '13-QF, '12-QF, '11-W
Topspin: Left-hander with a big serve and flat forehand consistently produces her best Grand Slam results on the grass at the All England Club, including two titles in the past five years. ... Winning more than 80 percent of her service games on grass since 2013.
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Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich
The Kiwi ace was beaten in straight sets in the final of the Monterrey Open in Mexico.