MCTA Managing Director, David Sammel answered tennishead's questions and gave his insights about Wimbledon 2009.

Rafael Nadal will not play Wimbledon. Will it devalue the tournament?
No player has ever been or ever will be bigger than Wimbledon or the game of tennis. New stars are born from situations of opportunity and that is what keeps the game healthy and exciting. Wimbledon is the value and a big player missing is part of the drama and never devalues the title for the winner as there is no guarantee Nadal would be in the final regardless (as the French Open is great testament and the site of Federer making history)

Do you think Federer can REGAIN his title?
Yes. After winning the French, confidence restored and higher than ever he is clear favourite whether Nadal plays or not.

Does Murray have a chance towin or will their be too much pressure?
I think Murray may well regret the opportunity missed at the French. He was not aggressive enough failing to use his formidable backhand return to pressure Gonzales with the early ball. Other players will have noticed this so Andy has more work to do to regain Locker Room Power to the level it was at the start of the French. I think he has to win Queens if he is to win Wimbledon. Federer has the shackles of history removed and will be very difficult to stop. The pressure is huge on anyone who can win a Slam so the added pressure of his home Slam will be more than balanced by the home support. He can do it and if he does by beating Roger or Rafa or both then he will be co-leader of the game going forward and win more than one.

What up and coming stars do you think can be successful on the grass this year (mens)?
Del Potro will be gaining confidence all the time so will be dangerous. It is a year too early for a 2nd week appearance but Grigor Dimitrov winner of the juniors last year may surprise someone in the first week. On grass its tough to pick a young player who quickly can take the unique pressure of Wimbledon without showing pedigree in Queens/Eastbourne before the event, so if no young player makes a splash at Queens or Eastbourne it is remote that he will emerge bigtime at Wimbledon.


Do you think there will be many shocks at this year's wimbledon in the ladies draw and why?
Many seeded players will lose but will they be shocks given their form. The likes of Dementieva, Jankovic, Ivanovic and Radwanska could all go early. Compared with the French Open men's tournament I think there will be fewer shocks at Wimbledon. The clear favourites are Venus and Serena. Ivanovic is working with Darren Cahill and if she gets her confidence back could be a threat but I'm not feeling it. Rybarikova won junior Wimbledon as did Wosniacki so are both possible slayers of high seeds. Rybarikova just won Birmingham so she is comfortable on grass and is coming in with confidence. Sharapova has yet to prove she is back at her best but has the experience in Slams and loves Wimbledon so expect a good showing but doubt she is ready to win it again, unless Venus and Serena go early. The girl to watch is Sam Stosur. She can volley and serves well. Perhaps like her countryman, Pat Rafter who after many disappointing SW19 appearances made 2 finals.   

Is Dinara Safina capable of winning at Wimbledon?
The number 1 in the world is always capable of winning, but grass does not favour her movement, and her 2nd serve can let her down. To win the Williams sisters need to be off their best and Dinara will have to serve really well and return very aggressively to control points from the off.

How do you think the women, in general, cope with the grass? And what do you think is a good game plan to apply when playing on the grass?
The women are able to rally really well on grass and rarely serve each other off the court. Women don't adjust their games for grass as much as the men who tend to come forward more and use slice more to approach, though not as much now as in previous era's. The returns are the key to success for the women, especially taking on 2nd serves which are a good avenue for hitting winners using the speed of the court. The ability to come to and enjoy the net is what separates the Williams (more with finishing drive volleys), Stosur and Mauresmo from the rest, but Amelie's forehand and 2nd serve can go wonky. This is why Stosur with the confidence of Paris behind her could be interesting.

Who do you think has the best game suited to the grass?
Mauresmo has the best game for grass but not the strongest mind or forehand so Venus with 5 titles at Wimbledon is by far the star on grass. Her serve and ability to come forward by taking the ball early is only rivalled by Serena.

Any other comments on the women's draw for this year's Wimbledon?
The womens game is still in a state of flux with Dinara collapsing in the finals of Roland Garros. Wimbledon and the US Open are Williams fortresses so if another player steps forward to win Wimbledon then she can begin to establish as No1 without the shadow of the Williams hanging quite so large over them. Personally I don't see flux as a problem except for the media who want a stateswoman who is also no1, with which Venus and Serena only flirt with limited schedules. Possibly the media are influenced by the amazing leadership of Federer and Nadal in the mens game, but I still remember when the media lamented the fact that Court, King, Evert, Navratilova, Graf then Seles won everything and flux was a dream ticket for the womens game.