Women's Olympic Preview: Will Serena Strike Gold?

By Erik Gudris

Serena Williams Goes For Gold at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London

(July 27, 2012) -- Serena Williams is aiming for a once in a lifetime chance to win Wimbledon and an Olympic gold medal in the same year. She's the favorite, but there's several contenders who could take her place on the top spot of the podium in women's singles.

No. 1 seed Victoria Azarenka has said that winning a medal for Belarus is her biggest goal this year. And though the Melbourne champion is one of the favorites, she'll have to work to get to the final four with a possible early test against China's Zheng Jie or Russia's Nadia Petrova.

But aside from "Vika", all eyes in this part of the draw will be on former gold medalist Venus Williams who meets Italy's Sara Errani in the first round. If Williams's energy level is at its peak, she's got a decent chance to reach the third round where she could face Germany's Angelique Kerber. Kerber, who reached the Wimbledon semis, could beat even Azarenka should they meet in the quarters, but ultimately this section feels like Azarenka's to win.

Pick: Azarenka

Serena Williams, seeded No. 4, is the prohibitive favorite to win her first gold in singles. But the only one who could stop her is Serena herself as her busy schedule includes doubles duty again with her sister Venus during the compressed Olympic event.

In the first round, Williams faces Serbia's Jelena Jankovic who lately is playing as a shadow of the player she used to be. The same could be said for Russia's Vera Zvonareva who is another potential early round opponent. Waiting for Williams in the quarters could be China's Li Na or Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki, but again this is Williams's section to win or lose. And we know how she hates to lose.

Pick: Williams

Agnieszka Radwanska finds herself as the No. 2 seed based on her stellar 2012 season and her recent run to the Wimbledon finals. But her path to the medal stand could be a difficult one. After a first round meeting versus Germany's Julia Goerges whose big wind-up game is better suited for clay, Radwanska could get tested next by America's Varvara Lepchenko and later by Russia'a Maria Kirilenko who nearly bested Radwanska in their Wimbledon quarterfinal.

But Radwanska's biggest obstacle could well be No. 6 seed Petra Kvitova who is seeking a bit of redemption after losing in the quarters of Wimbledon. If Kvitova's big lefty serve gets going, it's hard to see potential foes Flavia Pennetta or even grass court specialist Tsvetana Pironkova outlasting the former Wimbledon champion. Kvitova won her only meeting on grass versus Radwanska last year and if her game gets hot and stays that way, she will be tough to beat in the final rounds.

Pick: Kvitova

Though No. 3 seed Maria Sharapova is expected to reach the semifinals, it's not a given based on some dangerous floaters waiting for her in the early rounds. Sharapova could face Yaroslava "Golden Set" Shvedova whose all-court game serves her well on any surface and then get a rematch with Sabine Lisicki who aced her out of Wimbledon. Lisicki loves playing at SW19 more than anywhere else and she just might use the good vibes she gets from her happy hunting ground to her advantage once again.

The other side of this section is a toss-up with No. 5 seed Sam Stosur looking vulnerable on the grass once again. And that's why Kim Clijsters, playing in her first and last Olympics, might just sneak into the quarters here if she doesn't suffer another out of nowhere letdown in form. An inspired Clijsters versus Sharapova could be a great match but expect the representative from "Mother Russia" to outlast "Mama Clijsters".

Pick: Sharapova

Semis: S. Williams beats Azarenka, Sharapova beats Kvitova

Bronze Medal Match: Azarenka beats Kvitova

Gold Medal Match: Williams defeats Sharapova

Women's Doubles Preview

Serena and Venus Williams will seek their third gold medal in the women's doubles event. Though unseeded again, that certainly didn't stop them from winning their fifth Wimbledon title a few weeks ago.

No. 1 seeds Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond are also medal favorites and Huber said she wants to face the Williams Sisters in the gold medal match. It's hard to see any other team preventing that from happening but the Russian team of Maria Kirilenko and Nadia Petrova or the Czech team of Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka might play spoiler to an all-American final, but it's doubtful.

Gold Medal: Williams/Williams

Silver Medal: Huber/Raymond

Bronze Medal: Kirilenko/Petrova

(Photo Credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)