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 Men's defending champion Novak Djokovic was due to open proceedings
on Centre Court -- his first competitive match since losing the
French Open final to Stanislas Wawrinka.
Sixteen grand slam champions start in the men's and women's singles,
with several featuring a packed opening day schedule, including
Wawrinka and Australian veteran Lleyton Hewitt who will be making
his final bow at the tournament he won in 2002.
Defending women's champion Petra Kvitova will begin her quest for a
third Wimbledon title on Tuesday but for a headline act on day one
they do not come much bigger than American five-times champion
Serena Williams.
The 33-year-old Williams, world number one, is favorite to depose
Kvitova and raise her tally of grand slam singles titles to 21.
She faces 113th-ranked Russian Margarita Gasparyan on Court One and
should not be detained too long.
Djokovic, on the other hand, faces a stern examination against
Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber -- the world number 33 who once beat
him in straight sets at the French Open.
The Serb, who denied Wimbledon king Roger Federer a record eighth
title last year in a memorable final, chose not to take advantage of
a longer than usual grasscourt season, re-charging his batteries
rather than play a warm-up event.
Hewitt, playing at his 17th Wimbledon, takes on Finland's Jarkko
Nieminen on Court Two -- the bowl-like third show court that will be
a magnet for Australian fans throughout the day with Nick Krygios
also in action a year after causing a seismic shock by beating twice
champion Rafa Nadal.
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Even those without showcourt tickets will be well-rewarded for
waiting in the snaking queues from dawn at the start of one of the
most eagerly-anticipated days of a vintage British sporting summer
that features an Ashes cricket series and the British Open golf in
quick succession.
The All England Club's classy upgrades over the last 10 years have
turned it into a magnificent venue for watching top-level tennis in
an English country garden setting.
From the hill now known now as "Murray Mound" -- in honor of the
nation's great hope Andy who will begin his campaign on Tuesday --
to the Pimms and strawberry stands providing refreshment, it is the
place to be seen.
(Editing by Ed Osmond)
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