After another amazing edition of the French Open on the clay of Roland , the focus now shifts to the grass courts of Wimbledon and the 2014 championship draw.
On the men's side, Rafael Nadal is coming off yet another French Open victory, but all hope is not lost for the other competitors. Despite being a nine-time champion at Roland , Nadal has only gone on to win Wimbledon twice.
That glimmer of hope is all big names like , Roger Federer and defending tournament champion Andy Murray need. Expect plenty of marquee in the star-studded men's bracket.
For the women, Serena Williams is coming off a tough early-round loss at the previous Grand Slam but will be looking to bounce back at a tournament she has won five times over the course of her career. Add in Maria Sharapova coming off her win at the French Open against the red-hot Simona (also competing in the major), and the women's side could be just as competitive as the men's side.
Here is all the vital viewing information you need to witness the 2014 Wimbledon Championships draw.
When: Friday, June 20
Time: 6 a.m. ET
Where: All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London
Live Stream: Wimbledon Live
Men's Singles Draw Analysis
After winning the 2013 Wimbledon championship, all eyes will be on Murray as he attempts to steal the show in back-to-back majors on the grass courts in London. He lost in the semifinals of the French Open against eventual tournament champion and clay-court ringer Nadal, but the player from Great Britain is as strong on the grass surface as almost any player on the tour.
Murray wrote a column for BBC.com talking about his plan to get some much-needed rest after losing early in last week's Championships:
I'd never say it's a blessing in disguise - I don't enjoy losing and I messed up that first set by missing so many set points - but at least I now get the chance to give my body a bit of a break.
I've played a lot of tennis over the past few weeks after reaching the French Open semi-finals and I'll have a rest on Friday and Saturday, before getting back on the practice court at Wimbledon on Sunday.
With Nadal's ability to slide along the baseline limited on the grass, the length, quickness and power of Murray will give him ample opportunities to defend his title.
While many eyes will be on Murray and Nadal, there are several other stars who will be fighting for the Grand Slam victory. lost in the final against Nadal at Roland , but he was feeling sick over his last two matches. That should not be an excuse for his loss, but a full-strength will be a major threat for everyone in the field.
A win in 2011 proves he can achieve the feat, but also lost to Murray in the final of this tournament last year. With the desire to end the streak of recent second-place finishes, expect unmatched effort from .
Another name that can't be forgotten is Roger Federer. While there is no doubt that his success recently has slowed to a crawl, this is still a player who won seven times in this tournament and knows all about the pressure. Federer won the 2014 Gerry Weber Open leading into Wimbledon, and he will help ensure that this is one of the most interesting draws in recent men's tennis history.
Women's Singles Draw Analysis
After the retirement of 2013 Wimbledon champion Marion , the focus has once again shifted back to the most talented women's tennis player in the world, Serena Williams.
While Williams is a five-time Wimbledon champion, she is coming off a second-round loss at the French Open and a fourth-round loss at this tournament last year. If she wants to add another Grand Slam to her total, she will have to channel the effort she showed in the 2013 U.S. Open.
As shown via Wimbledon's official Twitter account, the tennis star is honing her craft already:
WATCH: @serenawilliams does backhand work at practice #Wimbledon #7daystogo https://t.co/NCspkN0FAG
- Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 16, 2014
One of the biggest threats for Williams at Wimbledon will be Sharapova. The Russian player may have never won this Grand Slam before, but she has serious momentum coming off a championship run at the French Open.
French Open champ Maria Sharapova says au revoir to Paris and heads to London +500 to win Wimbledon. http://ift.tt/1oyQ3J0
- Covers.com (@Covers) June 8, 2014
Sharapova was able to hold off talented young star in the final at Roland , but there are few players in the world with as much momentum as . With the big-stage experience she gained from the French Open, Wimbledon could be the next step for the Romanian player.
Add in potential threats like Li Na, Petra and Victoria , and there is little doubt that the women's draw will be just as intriguing as the men's.
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