There's no stopping the Williams

Dubai : Asking for a list of title favourites in the women's competition is akin to naming a winner at the ongoing soccer World Cup, where even a non-opinionated fan would normally lay his bets on Brazil. The same thing is true of modern-day women's tennis where the Williams sisters simply cannot be brushed aside.

History holds it all in their favour so far. Venus and Serena have dominated women's tennis like never before. Between them they have banked almost $60 million in prize money, picking up 19 major singles titles along the way. The American siblings have grabbed the silverware at the All England Club in eight of the past 10 years.

So if there is one person who is capable of stopping the other, the jostle may well be between the two Williams. Though younger Serena may start as the top seed, Venus may be more hungry of the two after turning 30 on Thursday.

And history is once again an indicator here in the changing world of women's tennis with no woman over 30 having won a grand slam trophy in the past two decades — the last being Martina Navratilova in 1990.

So when there is Venus and Serena the rest of the field pales into literal insignificance. Of course there are challengers in the form of the other higher ranked players such as Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki and former world No 1 Jelena Jankovic. And then there's the surprise French Open winner Francesca Schiavone and runner-up Samantha Stosur.

However, they have to prove their credentials on grass. Schiavone failed to make the transition from clay losing her opening match in straight sets at Eastbourne, while Stosur will have to be a little more convincing while trying to improve on her record of getting past the third round at The Championships. It is at this juncture that the comeback Belgian duo of Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin look to be the more formidable warriors capable of challenging the might of the Williams sisters.

Returning from a two-and-a-half-year maternity break, Clijsters has claimed the US Open and Henin did fall a step short of an eighth grand slam title at this year's Australian Open. But, for both a crown at the SW19 has proved elusive.

This year has witnessed the slipping of the Russian brigade. In fact after a very long time, there is no Russian player in the top 10. So the next fortnight is going to be centered around the Williams, or at least that is what the records indicate.

Past 10 women's winners

2009: Serena Williams (US) beat Venus Williams (US) 7-6(3) 6-2

2008: Venus Williams (US) beat Serena Williams (US) 7-5 6-4

2007: Venus Williams (US) beat Marion Bartoli (France) 6-4 6-1

2006: Amelie Mauresmo (France) beat Justine Henin (Belgium) 2-6 6-3 6-4

2005: Venus Williams beat Lindsay Davenport (US) 4-6 7-6(4) 9-7

2004: Maria Sharapova (Russia) beat Serena Williams (U.S.) 6-1 6-4

2003: Serena Williams beat Venus Williams 4-6 6-4 6-2

2002: Serena Williams beat Venus Williams 7-6(4) 6-3

2001: Venus Williams beat Henin 6-1 3-6 6-0

2000: Venus Williams beat Davenport 6-3 7-6(3).