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.

Dinara will make use of her top seed to romp through the opening rounds. The tennis world keeps waiting for Safina to bring that early-round mentality to the finals. At some point, she begins to play not to lose rather than to win.

Her resume is dotted with success. She has earned her top billing. However, her Grand Slam final matches have not helped the public’s perception of Safina as a bit of a choke artist. Her time is now!

2. Serena Williams – 5/2 –

Watch out for the Williams women. Serena is looking for her 3rd Wimbledon title and her 11th Grand Slam Championship. She is tough on grass and has a score to settle with Safina. Serena is looking to get the number one ranking back. In a big match, it is hard to bet against a proven star.

3. Venus Williams – 11/4 –

A five-time winner at Wimbledon and a two-time runner-up, Venus is right at home on the grass. Uncomfortable on the clay of Paris, she will be a force to beat in this one.

Venus has had a disappointing season with early exits in Melbourne and in Paris. The elder sister looks fit and fans expect the juices to flow for the next two weeks. A tough out for anyone.

4. Elena Dementieva – 25/1 –

Elena has reached the semis in three of the last four Grand Slams. Her 2008 semifinal appearance was her best performance in ten outings. However, the fleet Russian’s lackluster effort at clay ground raises questions about her heart.

Dementieva needs to assert herself to hold her number four ranking. Lesser players now regard Elena as a good and doable win.

5. Svetlana Kuznetsova – 16/1 –

Svetlana has added the 2009 French Open to her 2004 U.S. Open Championship and she did it with all the qualities of a true champion. Her strategy and execution were precise and her conditioning excellent.

Svetlana has climbed up in the rankings and the bookmakers like her chances at Wimbledon, where she has reached the fourth round and the quarters in the past two years. If we had to pick an upset winner, Svetlana would be our choice!

6. Jelena Jankovic – 16/1 –

Jankovic was favorably positioned in Paris and was cruising through the draw. When Dementieva was taken down, Jankovic seemed on track to move through the draw until her game inexplicably disappeared in the fourth round.

Much like Safina, the former number one has a history of Grand Slam failure. Her fitness is in question and once again Jelena looks like a long shot.

7. Vera Zvonareva – 33/1 –

Vera’s 20-4 record this year would normally make her a better risk. The determined Russian missed Roland Garros, but is in shape for Wimbledon. If she is fully rested and recuperated, Vera can pull an upset. With $1 million banked so far this season, we look for Vera to reach the quarters and quite possibly the semis.

8. Victoria Azarenka – 12/1 –

Now here is an athlete. Entering her fourth Wimbledon, Victoria strutted her big game power in Paris and should benefit from the grass. Her 32-6 record explains her jump in the rankings and in her popularity with the bookmakers.

Azarenka has the stuff to intimidate sift servers. A native of Belarus, Victoria could very well be a semifinalist this time around.

9. Caroline Wozniacki – 25/1 –

Denmark’s consistent tour player just does not seem to have Grand Slam consistency. The hard-working blonde may not have the ability to endure the grueling two-week demands. Caroline could be out early at Wimbledon. Her serve must improve to reach the quarters.

10. Nadia Petrova – 66/1 –

A quarterfinalist last year, Nadia’s sub-par performance in Paris raises more questions than it answers. One of Russia’s dominating team, Nadia may not fare too well. We look for an early upset of the ten seed.

11. Ana Ivanovic – 14/1 –

Where have you gone Ms. Ivanovic? The pretty fan favorite lost her serve here last year and has only whimpered since. The pretty Serb and Verdasco heartthrob has dropped five notches since the season began. Without a coach and a serve, Wimbledon may not be Ana’s best event.

12. Maria Sharapova – 6/1 –

She’s back! Praise be! Have you ever seen a 24 seed at 6/1? Probably not. If Maria’s conditioning lets her compete, she will be in the mix and the player all the big guns look to avoid. She had moments of brilliance in Paris but lacked stamina. We look for a solid performance on the grass.