No more rain breaks for Wimbledon with the new retractable roof [GALLO/GETTY]

But who are the main contenders for the title this year?

Last year, Rafael Nadal won his first SW19 title with an epic win over record-seeking Roger Federer, who was gunning for a fifth straight crown.

Many thought that would be the end of Federer, especially after having been demolished by the Spaniard at Roland Garros.

But Federer has proved the critics wrong, winning both the US Open, by defeating Andy Murray, and taking the French Open title, powering past Sweden's Robin Soderling since that loss.

And now, with the French title under his belt, the tide may have turned for the Swiss champion.

The challengers

Nadal is, of course, still world number one, and has been announced as the top seed this year, with the Swiss master at number two.

Neither have played on grass this season, leaving some to question their preparation.

Can Nadal overcome persistent knee problems? [AFP]

But these men are champions, and will surely go deep into the second week.

Following these two into battle is the British hope, Andy Murray.

Seeded third, he won the Queen's title with ease, only being broken twice throughout the entire tournament.

Who's to say he can't be the first home-grown Wimbledon Champion since Fred Perry?

With his recent form, the Scot could quite easily reach the final, but will he be able to handle the home pressure?

The fourth seed for this year is Novak Djokovic, who has had a mediocre season so far - it will be tough for him to make the semi-finals this year.

Del Potro rounds out the top five, having had a cosmic rise up the rankings in the past 12 months, but like Djokovic, it is unlikely he will be pushing deep into the tournament.

Watch out for former champion Lleyton Hewitt, and Ivan Ljubicic, both unseeded players who could cause some trouble.

The dark horse for the men's draw is Argentinean Leonardo Mayer, who with a game to reach the second week, may cause an upset or two.

Prediction for the men's title: Andy Murray

Dinara Safina takes the top seed at Wimbledon [EPA]

There are an endless number of potential winners from the women's draw this year.
Since Justine Henin retired, nobody has stepped up the mantle of controlling the game, although many have tried.

Ivanovic and Jankovic have fallen from the top and are sliding down the rankings, and Safina looks vulnerable as the current world number one.

She is top seed this year, with Serena Williams second and her sister - and two-time defending champion - Venus third.

There is no doubt the Russian is a fighter, and that attitude should see her safely until at least the quarter-finals, but it is doubtful she has the grass court game, nor the mental focus, to win this tournament - especially with the Williams sisters in the draw.

The earliest these two stalwarts of tennis could meet are the semi-finals, and you certainly wouldn't bet against that happening.

Venus is often vulnerable in the early rounds, but with the prospect of matching Steffi Graf's three-in-a-row from the early nineties, she will no doubt be hungry for the title.

Can French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova find her form? [GALLO/GETTY]

Elsewhere, the top five is rounded out by the Russians Elena Dementieva and Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Newly-crowned French Open Champion Kuznetsova suffered a shock loss on the grass of Eastbourne in her warm-up, so may feel a little unprepared to mount a title challenge.

Dementieva is an unpredictable force, reaching her first Wimbledon semi-final last year, but after a brilliant start, her form has tailed off and she may find herself losing points this year.

The only other top ten player who may possibly cause some havoc is Dane Caroline Wozniacki.

Ninth in the world and still only 18, she is a former junior champion on these lawns, and a quarter-final or better beckons for her.

However, all eyes will be on the current junior champion, British girl Laura Robson.

At just 15, she will not only be the youngest player in the draw, but the lowest ranked at 484. She has been likened to a young Kim Clijsters, and who knows, with a good draw, she could spring some upsets.

The dark horse for the women's draw is, of course, Maria Sharapova.

As the 24th seed, she could pose an early tricky opponent for a top-ranked player.

She does look much more beatable than maybe in the past, but she is an unbelievable competitor who will give everything and could reach the second week.

But bring earplugs - with Portugal's Michelle Larcher de Brito joining Sharapova and the Williams sisters reaching unfathomable volumes, it could well be a Wimbledon never to forget.

Prediction for women's champion: Venus Williams