When it comes to American tennis, we are stretched pretty thin right now. American men have not won a Grand Slam since Andy Roddick captured the US Open in 2003. Thanks to Andy’s resurgence, we have re-born hope in every event, but even we do not like our betting chances.

This week, we think Andy is well positioned, well composed and ready for a serious run at Juan Martin del Porto to make the semifinals. Then, we shall see. In the meantime, he is King Andy. That is our position and we are sticking to it.

Granted he gave French strongman, 22-year-old Jeremy Chardy, a careless third set, but King Andy had everything in hand. With 21 aces in the two-hour match (6-3, 7-6 (7), 4-6, 6-3), he was in control and had Chardy out of his game from the outset. King Andy is in the mix and ready for a run. Watch out Juan Martin! Watch out Scotsman! Our King will be coming at you.

Fortunately our ladies are more highly regarded. They deserve it. Serena and Venus have the credentials, the experience, the composure and the drive to win Grand Slams. Five time Wimbledon Queen Venus is looking good, looking and acting like royalty. The queen is a good woman.

Tall, slender, fit and moving gracefully from side to side, observers will be hard pressed to find a more likely winner. In just 78 minutes the Queen put down a possible Swiss uprising with her neat 6-3, 6-2 victory over Stephanie Voeqele. It was the Queen’s 12th straight first round Wimbledon triumph.

Our Queen may be the bookmaker’s second choice, but she looks too regal not to get a play. We think there may well be two Williams family members in the finals, so take that!

The Princess

In today’s morning matches and way back there on Court 17, something very special was happening. A Princess was born. The new 17-year-old American Princess stepped onto the court and claimed her rightful place.

As a decided underdog to pretty, fair-haired 29-year-old 26th seed, Austrian Sybille Bammer, little Melanie Oudin, who was sitting in her high school history class in Marietta Georgia three weeks ago, played to win. She played with the determination that led her to four successive junior championships last year, losing just three sets along the way. And, she played unlike a 5 foot 5 inch high school senior challenging a proven player who reached the quarters in the US Open last year and who reached the second round at Roland Garros and who has more than 100 career wins.

Melanie Oudin played like a winner. She played like her idol, Justine Henin, and she played with the quiet determination of our greatest queen, Queen Chrissy. Thank you Melanie! We knew you could do it. We have never doubted you.

At 5 foot 5 inches, players may not expect what Melanie will show them. She makes unlikely retrieves, prolongs points and smashes winning forehand drives with a slight irreverence.

What observers like about Melanie is that the 17-year-old blonde fireplug has a plan. She understands her serve will not overpower the pros so she makes no mistakes. She rarely double faults and she pressures opposing servers by making them work extra hard. If you are going to beat Melanie, bring your running shoes, because you will be on the court for a bit.

By the way, persons approaching our new Princess should pronounce her name oo-dan. As in oo-la-la! She’s a handful, our little princess. She’ll bubble you to death. Exuberant, joyful, bouncy, pretty, blonde and so very young. Off the court, Melanie is all joy. On the court, watch out. The Princess is all business.

When Melanie chose tennis, she chose it with purpose. The petite Georgian decided that if she would play, she would be good at it. That is good, as in successful, not as in also-ran.

She has been home schooled since the seventh grade. She intends to practice medicine, a noble pursuit and she intends to win big tennis matches. On June 23rd, little Melanie Oudin, official Princess of American tennis, won our hearts and the biggest match of her career. Way to go Melanie!

Now, Melanie, what will you do for us next? Will you rest on your laurels? Or, Princess, will you take it to the next level and outrun, outhustle and outgun 21-year old Muscovite, Yarolslava Shedova, a 6-1, 6-0 winner over Monica Nicolescu?

Once again, you will be the shortest player on the court. You will be the youngest player on the court. You will be an underdog, but you know what? You can do it! That’s is what American Princesses do. They win unexpected matches and move on to the third round. Then, we shall see. Okay Princess? See you in two days. Nice one, baby. Nice one! You make us proud!

The flamboyant defending champion and tournament top seed has rocked the tennis world once again. This time it is with his absence. The world’s number one has withdrawn from the grandfather and most prestigious of all the Grand Slams. Rafael Nadal announced his withdrawal after the original draw had been formed and sent tournament organizers into a tailspin. Critics score Nadal’s late decision as unfortunately typical. The Spaniard might have been better served by announcing his withdrawal earlier in the week, but that is not Rafa’s style.

There are many players who benefit from Nadal’s departure. Remarkably, the second seed, 14-time Grand Slam Champion and five-time Wimbledon Champion, Roger Federer has the most difficult path to the semi-finals.

In the greatest player of all-time’s quarter are heavyweights Fernando Verdasco (7), Ivo Karlovic (22), Jo-Wilfreid Tsonga (9), Robin Soderling (13) and Feliciano Lopez (21). If form holds, Round Four will be a rematch of the French Open finals pitting Soderling against the five-time winner. In the quarters, Verdasco should be looming, but Tsonga does not go away quietly. Tennis experts are shaking their collective heads and wondering how it could be any more difficult for the focused Federer to claim his 15th title.

Meanwhile, Scotsman Andy Murray, winner of the Queen’s and now top seed in the top half of the draw, has a comparative cakewalk to the quarters. His chief combatants will be Stanislaus Wawrinka (19), aging Marat Safin (14), Fernando Gonzalez (10), Victor Hanescu (31) and 8 seed Gilles Simon, who is not at the top of his game. If form holds, Murray’s fourth round would pit the testy Scot against Wawrinka. The Scotsman would meet the Frenchman, Simon, in the quarters. For Murray the path is clear to the semis.

The fourth seed is Serb Novak Djokovic, who escaped a quarterfinal matchup against Juan Martin del Porto when Nadal withdrew. Djokovic’s quarter has Mardy Fish (28), Tommy Robredo (15), Rainer Schuettler (18), Marin Cilic (11), Tommy Haas (24) and the struggling James Blake (17) who was moved to fill del Porto’s slot. What a mess!

If form holds, Djokovic will meet the tough Robredo in the fourth round and Cilic in the quarters. Djokovic is unaccustomed to such a relaxed draw and this may be just the spark the moody Serb needs to make a big move.

Juan Martin del Porto (5) slides into Nadal’s place. He is far and away the biggest beneficiary of Nadal’s damaged knees. In his quarter are Radek Stepanek (23), David Ferrer (16), Nikolay Davydenko (12), Tomas Berdych (20) and probable quarterfinal matchup Andy Roddick (6).

Like del Porto, Roddick must be licking his chops. Roddick is two-time runner-up at Wimbledon and is enjoying a fine year. It has been a long time since the American has been positioned so well at a Grand Slam.

The Ladies Singles’ Draw

Wimbledon will be Dinara Safina’s most difficult Grand Slam Draw of the year. The number one seed will be challenged to get through the quarters where her decisive Roland Garros conquerer, Svetlana Kuznetsnova (5), will be waiting. The top of the draw looks to provide some other hefty challenges for the nervous Safina, who has a more difficult path than Svetlana to the probable quarterfinal pairing. Fiava Pennetta (15), Amelie Mauresmo (17) and Caroline Wozniacki (9) stand in the way of the French rematch.

Third seeded Venus Williams looks to have the most favorable quarter. The five-time winner at Wimbledon has not needed a lot of help in the past. She is an expert grass-court player. With her sister in the lower half of the draw, the possibility of a Williams-Williams final matchup looks very possible. However, there are stumbling blocks aplenty for both sisters. The main competition in Venus’s quarter will come from the well-conditioned Samantha Stosur (18), Ana Ivanovic (13), Agnes Radwanska (11) and French disappointment Jelena Jankovic (6). Stosur is in top form and poses a stern test for the three seed. Jankovic looks to have a clear path but seems to stumble in Grand Slam tournaments.

Number two seed, Serena Williams is chomping at the bit to regain her former number one ranking. The tough American is well suited for the Wimbledon grass and plays her best when the pressure is highest.

The younger Williams should have smooth sailing to the quarters. A likely fourth round pairing with Patty Schnyder (21) should not present much of a test. However, the quarter possibilities are intriguing. 24th seed and fast returning to form Maria Sharapova (24) is a strong candidate along with hard-hitting Victoria Azarenka (8), and Nadia Petrova (10). There are four potential champions in this quarter.

Elena Dementieva whose sub-par performance in Paris has raised previously unasked questions about her fitness and heart will need to play better to knock off Dominika Cibulkova in the fourth round. Elena will probably face the always-ready Vera Zvonareva (7) or Marion Bartoli (12) in the quarters.

Our longest shot of the Wimbledon event is American 17 year old Melanie Oudin who arrived in the main draw via three qualifying wins. A month ago, the pretty Georgian was finishing her junior year in high school. Oudin plays 29th seed Sybille Bammer in the first round. Oudin could well surprise but will certainly be game.

Two surprising draws are bound to provide great play, loads of emotion and more than the usual number of upsets.

Gentlemen’s Singles

1. Rafael Nadal – 7/2

Will he or won’t he? That is the question. The 7/2 odds were posted before the Spaniard lost an exhibition match to Lleyton Hewitt on Thursday. Rafa’s knees have kept tournament organizers on edge and the defending champion is reserving his final decision until the last minute. Despite his number one seed and his glorious 2008 win over Federer in the greatest Wimbledon Final ever played, grass is not Nadal’s surface of choice. The bookmakers have taken that into account and marked him the third choice. It is not easy to overlook his 44-5 2009 won-lost record or career 379-82 record or more than $25 million in earnings.

One way or another Rafa will have an impact on the draw and the seeding. Rafa still seems wounded after falling to Soderling on his favorite surface at Roland Garros.

2. Roger Federer – 11/10

A 15th Grand Slam would unquestionably qualify the Swiss wonder-man as the greatest player of all time. Winning at Wimbledon, where he has already won 5 championships, would add special meaning to the record 15th title.

The bookmakers have installed Roger as a prohibitive favorite and who can argue with a man that has played in 22 consecutive Grand Slam semi-finals. Roger Federer knows how to win. He is a champion’s champion and his 650 – 155 career won-lost record tells the story.

3. Andy Murray – 5/2

Fresh off his dominating Queen’s Championship, Andy Murray has sets the presses abuzz. The talented Scot became the first Brit in 71 years to win the Wimbledon prelim, but his Grand Slam record is spotty.

With two quarterfinals and a Runner-up to his credit, Murray has been unable to register a signature win. While the talent is there, many lingering questions about his ability to play on the center stage still remain. His 2008 quarterfinal appearance at Wimbledon was his best showing on the home court. Perhaps this year he will live up to expectations.

4. Novak Djokovic – 10/1

Unlike Murray, the big Serb has won a Grand Slam, the 2008 Australian Open, and was a semifinalist here last year. Somehow, his big game disappears against the two biggest names. Grass is not Djokovic’s favorite surface but he has the game for it.

After being eliminated in the quarters at Melbourne and in the 3rd round at Roland Garros, the bookmakers are pulling back a bit. Djokovic will be awaiting word on Nadal’s decision.

5. Juan Martin del Porto – 25/1

He reached the semis in Paris but still must be disappointed with his season. One of the tour’s most popular players, del Porto needs to be a little less popular and a bit more focused. With one of the biggest games on the circuit, the lanky Argentine must make a Grand Slam move.

Del Porto is fast becoming the player other players want to see in a big match. His 31-9 record has moved him up the ladder but he remains a fifth seed in a search of a big upset.

6. Andy Roddick – 25/1

Roddick has performed beyond expectations. A semi-finalist at Melbourne and a fourth round surprise on the red clay in Paris, the two-time Wimbledon Runner-up has the game for the grass.

Roddick’s new conditioning and more disciplined approach make the sixth seed a dangerous opponent. Roddick’s ability to hold serve puts pressure on opponents. At 25/1 the American is a decent longshot.

7. Fernando Verdasco – 25/1

Verdasco was a disappointment in Paris. Since his semi-final match against Nadal in Melbourne, the Spaniard has moved quickly up in the rankings. Verdasco reached the 4th round here last year and is in much better form this time around.

Verdasco should make the quarters and if he plays with his new intensity, he has the game to pull an upset. He simply needs to believe it.

8. Gilles Simon – 125/1 –

After another quiet performance in Paris, Simon can only be regarded as a weak 8 seed. The tiring Frenchman is only 21-18 this season and is moving down in the rankings.

Simon has only reached the quarters in one Grand Slam in his career and grass has never been his strength. The 8 seed lost in the third round last year and he will be tested before that this time.

9. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga – 16/1

With Tsonga, it is all about expectations. An imposing force, his fourth round performance in Paris was lackluster. Best described as a moody player, Tsonga needs to come out, grab the momentum and run with it. In his only Wimbledon, he reached the fourth round, but the bookmakers must see something we do not. Look for an early upset.

10. Fernando Gonzalez – 66/1

Fernando does not beat himself. A passionate, experienced competitor, Gonzalez plays to the crowd. He goes after the umpire, the linespeople and anyone else who will listen. With a 4th round showing in Melbourne and a semi at Paris, Gonzalez will not be an easy out. With a 22-6 record this year, Gonzalez has steadily moved ahead. Look for at least a quarterfinal appearance.

11. Robin Soderling – 33/1

Soderling still has his Roland Garros glow. Wherever that showing came from, it made an impression. Soderling has jumped up in the rankings and caught the eyes of the bookmakers. He has the serve and the forehand to pull more surprises. Now that he has tasted success, he may be hard to stop.