Wimbledon Darkhorses?

For the men, I think Haas, Tsonga, Berdych, Blake, Cilic, and Safin are all potential dark horses. Ancic is a good pick too but I don't know if he's healthy yet (look what mono has done to him, poor fellow). You would think Karlovic but he hasn't made it out of the first round of Wimbledon for awhile now. He has a monster serve but he can't break serve either. Haas is playing well and you have to feel good for him at this point in his career. The others I named are all big hitters who can make a mark when playing well. We all know what Safin can do when he's at the top of his game. But then again, he's just as likely to bomb out against some unknown player at any moment.

For the women, I like your picks of Wozniacki, Tanasugarn, Razzano, Bartoli, and Mirza. Hopefully Azarenka is healthy, but I don't know how well she does on grass. Wozniacki looks like a great pick, having had a great year so far. Bartoli and Mirza both like the grass. I might add Stosur and Radwanska, whose games match the grass surface very well. Stosur made a surprise semifinal run at Roland Garros, so imagine what she can do on the grass if she's playing well. Radwanska has been in a bit of a slump this year, but if she picks up her game she is more than likely to match her quarterfinal appearance last year. Razzano, who just took out Radwanska and Dementieva, looks confident.

There is a much better chance of a dark horse making a run on the women's side than the men's side, where it is more than likely you'll see Nadal and/or Federer in the final.

I don't know if it's a darkhorse as such, but since every pundit i hear is predicting Federer, Nadal or Murray, i think Juan Martin Del Potro will have an outside shot of winning Wimbledon.

In his semi-final against Federer at the French Open, Del Potro's serving was Karlovic worthy for the first 3 sets. His first serve percentage was in the 70's, and Federer couldn't get a look-in.

His all round play is stronger now, his ground strokes and return of serve (which has improved greatly) will suit the quicker Wimbledon surface and his serve could be unstoppable if it fires.

He got to the Quarters in Australia and Semi's in France, so he's good enough to get to the latter stages of a Grand Slam. He's also exceptional at sweeping away the lesser players at the start of the tournament.

I feel his serve and enormous ground strokes could cause a stir at Wimbledon.

As for the women, maybe Mauresmo could get to the latter stages. However i don't see anything besides a Serena vs Venus final

For the women I would say Sam Stosur is someone to look out for. She has one of the best serves in the women's game and has a huge forehand. Her big, powerful game will be shown even better on a faster surface like grass. She made it to the semis at the French and that is her worst surface, so she is in form. For the men I would say Gael Monfils. I think he has an excellent game and that he just hasn't had the results lately that he should be having. He's out of the top 10 after losing to Federer in the French so he will be itching to come back and get revenge. If he can stay focused and determined I think that grass could suit his game and that he could be a real threat at Wimbledon.

Since you answered my post on the same topic I will do likewise.

Men -- I'm a diehard Roddick fan so have to give him a chance, since Nadal dropped out of his side of the draw. Of course, he'd have to get thru Murray and likely Federer in the finals, but if he's ever going to do it, this is the time.

Others to watch - Safin(depending on his moods), Haas, Blake (if he can get his head together).

Ladies - Sharapova has nothing to lose and could be a bracket breaker. Mauresmo has the game but does she have the confidence? Sam Stosur's got the game and the confidence after the French. And yes, Safina is a darkhorse, depending on her state of mind.

Men:

Frank Dancevic: He just made it to the final in Eastbourne, and should be a-ok with an easy draw with Tsonga (who hasn't been anywhere since the Paris Masters), and Verdasco (hasn't made noise since Australia semi)

Dmitry Tursunov: I beleive he is on the top with Del Potro, and I can see him making it to the round of 16, he just won Eastbourne, has confidence, why not, maybe the quarterfinals??

Arnaud Clement: Hey, he made it to the quarters (should've bea shuttler in that match, and made it to the semis!), and has a first round match vs Del Potro, but if he makes it past that, he'll gain confidence. Plus he's a favorite of mine.

Lleyton Hewitt: What can I say, he's good on grass. After winning Queens like, 4 times, and getting Nadal out of his draw, he should be good, and I can see him beating Del Potro in the round two (or Clement)..

Tommy Haas: Has no top 8 seed in his draw, should have a 4th round match with Blake, has Djokovic in his quarterfinal, who he beat in Halle (on grass), last weak! I say he's going semis!

James Blake: He's in the same part as Haas, so basically whoever wins that can make it to the semis! I doubt Djokovic will do anything.

Fernando Gonzalez: another easy section with Hanescu and Simon (like at the French Open, how ironic! CHEATER!!)

Andy Roddick is who I think will win, if that counts as a darkhorse..

Women:

Aleksandra Wozniak: She did well in Eastbourne, has an easy section, I think she could go to the quarterfinals to make her big slam debut (after choking in the 4th round at Roland Garros to Serena!).

Virginie Razzano: She's quite the little upseter, lol. She made it to the EAstbourne semis, and has an easy section.

Jelena Dokic: I just like her, and she could've beat Dementieva at Roland Garros, and she's in her draw..again!

Sam Stosur: HAs a tough 2nd round with Dokic, if she can made through that she'll play Dementieva (like in Roland Garros, lol).

Michelle Larcher de Brito: She can make her big slam debut. And she has the press on her side!

Sesil Karatencheva: She's off drugs, and she made it to the quarters at Wimbledon at age 15, hopefully she can make a comeback!

Maria Sharapova: She got a seed, and an easy section, and she's been progressing at every tournament! We'll see..

Tamarine Tanasugarn: She was the perpetual 4th round gal, before last weeks break into the QF's! Can she improve to semis?

Aravane Rezai: She's just been beasting this year.

Kateryna and Alona Bondarenko: Always the underdogs, and I love this sibling duo

Agnieszka and Urszulla Radwanska: The sibling duo, I DON'T like, lol.

Victoria Azarenka: Darkhorse who could win this thing!

Caroline Wozniacki, other darkhorse who could lift the trophy!

:)

Favourites have to be Federer and Murray. I can't see Nadal or Djokovic making it past the quaters, they are both terrible. I mean losing to Hewitt after poor performances at the french and in the lead up to the French? Pathetic.

Federer Murray Semi (should be final), the other side of the draw is wide open. Guys like Tsonga, Haas (playing well at the moment), Gonzalez etc should really be hoping the get Nadal/Djokovic side of the draw. Thats who I would base my 'darkhorses' on, the ones who get the easier run to the finals on Nadals side of the draw, they simply wont make it against Federer or Murray.

How about that dude that plays like Federer. What's his name - Dmitrov I think. Wouldn't a first round clash between those two be interesting. It will actually be 21 straight slam semis for Federer, but if he meets either Novak or Murray (unlike at the French) I don't see him going any further. Never count out Djokovic, especially when there is no pressure on him. He does have a slam under his belt so he's already been there and done that, and heat obviously won't be a problem in London.

Alright.

For Mens:

Cilic has a perfect game for grass.

Chardy has been improving.

Soderling just came off a great run.

Lopez is a sleeper.

Haas, Safin, Hewitt=all veterans who play well on grass.

For Womens:

Bartoli is definitely a darkhorse.

Li and Zheng sneak through a lot.

Stosur is playing strong.

Mauresmo is great on grass.

Sharapova could get through.

Wozniacki is a contender, for sure.

Pavlyuchenkova, no one expects her.

MEN = Murray and Tommy Haas! Ancic has mono and is out of wimbledon and davis cup.

WOMEN = Sharapova obviously, Elena Dementieva (considered darkhorse cause she doesnt win GS)

men's dark horse - Roddick (if the twisted ankle is fine), Soderling, Haas and Karlovic