Healthy Serena likes her chances

A knee injury kept her out of the 2006 tournament.

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Not one to doubt herself, or pay any heed to those who do, Serena Williams likes her chances as she returns to the All England Club.

“Like I always say, when I’m playing well, it’s hard for anyone to beat me. It’s just a fact. I think a lot of people understand that,” said Williams, who won Wimbledon in 2002 and 2003 but missed last year’s tournament with a left knee injury.

“I don’t think anyone that has to play me goes home and shouts with joy.”

Well, Lourdes Dominguez Lino, a Spaniard ranked 57th, was not invited to deliver a pre-tournament news conference, so her reaction to facing Williams will have to wait until today, when they’re scheduled to meet on Day 1 of the grass-court Grand Slam.

Tough stretch for U.S.

It’s been a tough stretch for the United States at tennis’ top level of late, with zero American men’s major champions since Andy Roddick at the 2003 U.S. Open, a stretch of 14 tournaments. Things really hit bottom at the French Open, where Roddick and the rest of the U.S. men were a combined 0-9.

The American women haven’t fared that much better, with only one finalist at the past seven Grand Slams: Williams, who won January’s Australian Open.

Only one U.S. woman is seeded in the top 20 here: No. 7 Williams.

At last year’s Wimbledon, all nine U.S. men were gone before the fourth round, only the second time since 1922 that’s happened. And only one American woman, Shenay Perry, reached the fourth round.

Vow of reversal

Asked about that, Williams pointed out, “I wasn’t here. ... That’s the answer. That’s why. So now that I’m here, it should be different.”

Unlike most players, neither she nor her older sister Venus enters any warmup events on grass, meaning today’s match will be Serena’s first since losing in the French Open quarterfinals to the eventual champion, No. 1 Justine Henin.

They could meet at the same stage at Wimbledon and join three-time champion Venus Williams, defending champion Amelie Mauresmo, 2004 champion Maria Sharapova, and rising Serbians Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic as candidates for strong showings.

“We are probably, I don’t know, four or five [who are] able to get the trophy this year,” Mauresmo said Sunday.

“Yeah, I do consider myself part of these four or five.”

The men’s draw features only two Wimbledon winners: 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt and Roger Federer, who is bidding for a fifth consecutive title, something last accomplished by Bjorn Borg in 1976-80.

Opening match

As the reigning men’s champion, Federer gets the honor of appearing first on Centre Court, where he plays Teimuraz Gabashvili, a Russian ranked 85th.

Other men slated to play today, weather permitting — the forecast (surprise!) calls for rain — include two-time runner-up Roddick and No. 9 James Blake of the United States.

“It is a very dangerous surface. You can be upset by almost anybody, any round,” said Federer, who said he gets nervous before each match, even if he has won a record 48 in a row on grass.

He, Roddick (up first on Court 1) and their opponents — Roddick meets Justin Gimelstob of the United States — will get first crack at using the “Hawk-Eye” call-challenge system, which is making its Wimbledon debut on the two main courts.