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Venus (l) and Serena: Feared grasscourt players
A look at the market for the ladies' singles at Wimbledon 2008 shows the wide-open nature of the women's game at present.
It's certainly a long time since the Williams sisters dominated every outright market back towards the start of the decade, yet both should be feared once again as the WTA Tour heads for the grass of the All England Club.
Defending champion Venus has won this title four times now, while younger sister Serena is a two-time champion.
Indeed since the turn of the Millennium, only Maria Sharapova (2004) and Amelie Mauresmo (2006) have wrested the title from the Williams family and at 15/8 we feel the duo are worth backing to keep a grip of the famous (and aptly-named) Venus Rosewater dish.
While the layers can't agree on a favourite, it's fair to say they all consider the Williamses as potential champions.
Their athleticism, reach and court speed are all big plusses on the slick grass, on which many of their tour peers struggle.
Both have big serves to win them plenty of easy points, while Venus in particular is an adept volleyer.
While their light schedules have led people to question their commitment to the game, it's hard to query their determination once they take to the court and given Justine Henin is now in retirement, only Maria Sharapova can come close to Serena in terms of mental toughness - just look at the way she somehow got the better of Daniela Hantuchova in last year's fourth round after suddenly cramping up mid-match.
Little should be read into the pair's early exits at the French Open - the clay has always proved to be their bete noire - and instead the surface switch to grass is likely to have an adverse effect on some of their title rivals.
That can be said of both Ana Ivanovic - the new French Open champion - and Jelena Jankovic.
Ivanovic's forehand was firing superbly in Paris, but she won't get as much time off the ground in SW19.
Formidable
She was well beaten by Venus in last year's semis and this year it could be Serena who proves too good should they meet in the last four.
Jankovic is in the opposite half of the draw - alongside Venus - and her more defensive game is even less well sutied to the green stuff.
She struggled through to the last 16 last year before falling to eventual runner-up Marion Bartoli.
While you can question the two Serbs' ability to succeed on this surface, the same cannot be said of Maria Sharapova.
The Russian announced her name to the world by winning here four years ago and has since twice returned to the semi-finals.
A formidable opponent on grass, where her serve is a big weapon, Sharapova started the year in blistering form embarking on an 18-match winning streak which took in the Australian Open title.
The arrival of the claycourt season brought a change in fortune, but that was no surprise - like the Williams sisters Sharapova's game is not built for the red dirt.
Back on the grass, she'll be confident of rediscovering her early-season form and if she does then opponents should beware.
We wouldn't put you off wanting to back Sharapova - Sportingbet offer a stand-out 7/2 - and you could get her and the Williamses onside by backing 'any previous winner' with Coral. They offer 4/5 about that and you get Amelie Mauresmo and Lindsay Davenport thrown in too.
However, we'll stick with totesport's 15/8 about another victory for the Williams clan.
