Ten burning questions for Wimbledon

Wimbledon, perhaps the biggest Grand Slam event in tennis, began today, and the story is much the same as last year. Roger Federer comes in as a prohibitive favorite among the men, and the women's side is wide open.

Can anyone stop Roger Federer?
If he plays anything close to his best tennis, he's unbeatable at Wimbledon. The 24-year-old Swiss magician has won this tournament the last three years in a row. He has a 41-match winning streak on grass, tying Bjorn Borg for the Open Era record. Federer's game is perfectly suited for the surface. His only four losses this year have come to Rafael Nadal, but Nadal isn't a threat on grass. Federer already bounced back from his loss to Nadal in the French Open final to win a Wimbledon tune-up last week. Federer's biggest threat may be a tough early draw (Richard Gasquet in the first round and perhaps Tim Henman in the second).
Can Justine Henin-Hardenne back up her French Open title with a Wimbledon crown?
Yes. She's one of about five women who have an equal chance of taking home the trophy. The 24-year-old Belgian just took her third French Open title, so she should be brimming with confidence. The biggest question will be whether her sometimes fragile health can hold up. Her all-around game and athletic style play well on grass. Wimbledon was the first major in which Henin-Hardenne reached the final (in 2001), but it's the only one she hasn't won. She just beat her Belgian rival Kim Clijsters in a Wimbledon warm-up, so Henin-Hardenne looks raring to go.
3. Does Nadal have a chance to win this tournament?
No. Nadal, 20, has had an amazing 14 months on clay, winning 60 matches in a row, including two Roland Garros titles. But grass isn't his surface. The Spaniard's loopy forehand and extreme grip change are difficult to pull off on grass, as it reduces reaction time. The lawns of London also take the bite off his vicious topspin. Nadal cares about playing well at Wimbledon, which is a nice change from the attitude of some previous French Open winners. But he doesn't yet have the game to do it, and he had to retire from a tune-up event last week with a sore shoulder. Nadal could fall to Andre Agassi in the third round, which would be one round further than he advanced last year.
4. Can Maria Sharapova win Wimbledon again?
Yes, but probably not this year. The 19-year-old Russian captured the Big W crown two years ago. Her flat, booming strokes, with their low bounces, are perfect for grass, and she has a powerful serve. No one exceeds her competitive spirit. But injuries have limited Sharapova to just two tournaments since the beginning of April. She was upset in the fourth round of the French Open by Dinara Safina and in the semifinals of last week's warm-up event by Jamea Jackson. So Sharapova won't be coming into Wimbledon with a lot of confidence.
5. How about the top American men, Andy Roddick and James Blake?
Both can do some damage at Wimbledon, but it's unlikely either of them can win it. Roddick, 23, has been runner-up to Federer for the past two years. His big serve and athleticism do him well on grass. But he's failed to reach a tournament final yet this year and obviously has lost some confidence. So Roddick will be lucky to have another final date with Federer. Blake, 26, just beat Roddick for the first time at a tune-up event last week. That was a big win for Blake, who has struggled on grass in the past. He has the tools to do well on the surface, with a big, all-around game and great foot speed. But patience has been a problem. It doesn't appear that Blake has enough self-belief to win a major yet.
6. Can Amelie Mauresmo break through at Wimbledon?
Maybe. The 26-year-old French woman certainly has the game to win in London. She can do everything on the court, and does it with flair. Her aggressive net-rushing style is perfect for Wimbledon. Mauresmo got the monkey off her back by finally winning a major at the Australian Open in January. And she followed that up with a couple more titles in February. But Mauresmo has slumped since then. She was upset in the fourth round of the French Open by Nicole Vaidisova and then in her first match at a warm-up event this week by Nathalie Dechy. She'll need her confidence back to win the Big W.
7. Does Lleyton Hewitt have a shot at another title?
Yes, but it's hard to imagine he can beat Federer if the 25-year-old Australian is lucky enough to reach the final. With Wimbledon's grass having been slowed down a bit in recent years, Hewitt's aggressive baseline style can thrive. He won the Wimbledon crown four years ago. But that was before Federer reached his prime. Hewitt's results actually have fallen off during the past couple years, and Federer has beaten him nine times in a row. Still, Hewitt won a tune-up event last week for his first title in almost 18 months. That should give his confidence a boost coming into the tournament.
8. Can Clijsters take home the Wimbledon trophy?
That depends on her health and her attitude. The 23-year-old Belgian's power game and strong movement give her a shot in London. She made a major breakthrough in winning her first Grand Slam tournament at the U.S. Open last year. But her results have been lackluster since then. Clijsters has been nagged by injuries, and it sounds like she is more looking forward to retirement and having kids than racking up major titles. She looked listless in losing to Henin-Hardenne in the semifinals of the French Open. But if Clijsters pulls it together at Wimbledon, she can win the whole thing.
9. Who are the other threats among the men?
Mario Ancic and David Nalbandian. Ancic, a 22-year-old Croat, has a potent serve-and-volley game that's perfect for grass. Indeed, he was the last player to beat Federer on the surface — in the first round of Wimbledon four years ago. Ancic is having a strong year at 35-12 and just reached the final of a warm-up event. Nalbandian, a 24-year-old Argentine, reached the Wimbledon final in 2002. Although he camps out at the baseline, his compact swings and steady performance win him matches on grass. He owned Federer early in their careers, though the tables have turned over the past two years.
10. Who are the other threats among the women?
Martina Hingis and Venus Williams. Hingis, 25, has had impressive results in her return to the tour this year. She won her first title of 2006 in a big tournament at Rome just before the French Open. But then Hingis wilted at Roland Garros, running out of steam in a quarterfinal loss to Clijsters. The Swiss miss was probably smart to rest rather than play a Wimbledon tune-up. If Hingis is at her best, she could match her 1997 Wimbledon title. Williams, 26, is the defending champion and a three-time titlist at Wimbledon. With her power game, athleticism and self-belief, Williams has a chance in London. But she has played a lot less tennis going into the event this year than she did last year. So it's hard to know what Williams will bring to the table.