Nick Bollettieri's Wimbledon Dossier: Serena inspires next US generation

Amélie Mauresmo (Fr) v Serena Williams (US) Centre Court

I followed the fortunes of Serena Williams yesterday because when you're an American looking for interest at Wimbledon these days, you have to be grateful there are any matches with US involvement at all and catch them while you can.

It's gone beyond the "Holy Cow!" stage of shock, to the point when although your big-name, high-ranked players are going out of events way before they really should, it's not actually that surprising. For Andy Roddick (men's world No 6) and James Blake (No 8) both to have gone out before the first Friday is not good at all. They should be making the quarters. And yet few people were terribly shocked. What a state we're in, a country that in the recent past dominated men's Slams.

Before I tell you of a significant development in which I'll be involved, seeking to change America's tennis fortunes, a few observations on Serena beating Amélie Mauresmo yesterday, 7-6, 6-1. To be frank, Amélie did better than I thought she would in that first set and then the second went precisely as I anticipated the whole match might.

Serena prevailed as predicted, using her power and through a high percentage of first serves. But Amélie, after her good start, was pooped by that first-set tie-break loss, made so many errors I lost count and obviously was hampered and struggling with the thigh injury that needed a medical break.

How far can Serena go? On the evidence of her matches so far, she has not been close to her devastating best. Next, she's up against Bethanie Mattek (another American! Praise be!). Mattek beat last year's losing finalist, Marion Bartoli. And given what's been happening with shocks all over the women's draw, anything can happen. But you can never, never write off the Williams sisters. And as Serena herself said after yesterday's match, she's still feeling her way into the tournament. No doubt she and Venus both think the best is to come.

America has to take the same attitude to tennis in general because where there's no hope, there's no point. I hope I can play a role in finding and developing new talent in a formal partnership with the US Tennis Association that I'm revealing here today for the first time. In the coming days I'll be nominated as a commissioner on the USTA elite programme, working with Patrick McEnroe, who has taken up the task of changing US fortunes.

What will I do? I'll help identify talent, assist with the development of coaches, run camps and advise on their structure and give whatever advice I can to our nation's governing body from my 52 years working in the game.

I have already started work with the USTA with three promising African-American youngsters, who are working with us at the academy. You can guarantee zilch at their tender years, but Alicia Black (age 10), Victoria Duval (12) and Sachia Vickery (13) all have the potential to be special. The USTA is supplying all the support for them on the road and my academy is taking care of tuition and housing for them.

I'm hoping that you might hear a lot more about these girls in years to come, and Sachia has already been making waves in junior events in places as far-flung as Costa Rica. Age 13, and she's already won an 18s and under tournament!

All young players need role models and these girls and others like them can have no better heroes than Serena and Venus, two outstanding champions for so long. For how much longer? Who knows? But you don't diss a Williams and not expect to end up looking stupid.

Jankovic faces test of control

Jelena Jankovic could be in for a torrid time today at the hands of Caroline Wozniacki. I tip Jelena, a girl I know well from the academy, primarily because she should win and has all the tools to do so. But Wozniacki is one tough competitor. She hits flat, covers the court brilliantly, won't be daunted by facing a top player and will pressure the serve. Unless Jelena controls from the off with that serve, she could be troubled. Richard Gasquet is my tip in the all-French battle with Gilles Simon, and this will be a good test of his well-being, which is in doubt. Radek Stepanek can beat Mikhail Youzhny and I give him the slight edge in a match of two men who hit well from the baseline, because he comes in to the net a lot. That variety in his game can make the difference. I wouldn't see him winning playing solely from the baseline.

For more picks and a full record of what happens to my predictions, visit:

www.nickstennispicks.com

Today's Big Match Tommy Haas v Andy Murray

HEAD-TO-HEAD: Two previous meetings. One win each.

ODDS: Haas 2-1, Murray 1-2.

Bollettieri predicts: Not impossible for Tommy, but tough today. Murray.

Showtime folks! Can the British bandwagon keep on rolling into the second week or do the wheels come off this afternoon? Andy Murray is noted for his quick feet. He covers the court well. His return of serve is good, his service is improving by leaps and bounds. He shouldn't be under pressure but you want a new home king. Tommy is one of my boys, at the academy since he was 13, and he still lives there but he's had a bad two years with injury. His one-handed slice is as good as anyone's in the world. We know he's got a big forehand. His serve has been back up to 125-126 mph after shoulder problems. To stand a chance today he must go aggressive early, and stay there. He's got to break Murray's rhythm, snatch his opportunities and be offensive. Tommy wants short points. Rallies help Murray. The longer this match goes on, the stronger favourite Murray becomes. Tommy's best shot is in three sets, but I'm concerned he won't do that, meaning the edge, for me, is with Murray.

Nick's tips to improve your game

*Tip No 5: Learn the swing volley.

The swing volley is a shot strongly associated with my academy and has become a big weapon in the game. It's an aggressive shot, quite often unstoppable, and you will have seen the Williams sisters and Maria Sharapova thundering them down. The time to use it is when the ball is sitting up and saying "Hit me! Hit me!" and it's not high enough to hit an overhead. Let the ball drop to shoulder height. You need to switch your grip from whatever you've got, probably an eastern, aka the "shake hands" grip, to the semi-western, with your hand behind the racket. Stay level. Don't tilt your shoulders. Strike through the ball and accelerate the racket head on contact. Try a drill standing on the baseline, gradually moving forward with balls being hit to you in the air.

Win a week at Tennis Academy

Want to win a week's stay at my Florida academy, on me? Again, I'm running a competition in this column to give you the chance to travel to America and train in the footsteps of Andre Agassi, Maria Sharapova and other top players.

To enter, just email to tell me who you think is going to win today's big match (below left). I'm looking for a scoreline and a forecast of the manner in which your pick will win. Each day, I'll select a winner, with the overall winner drawn from all those at the end of the tournament.

Yesterday's winner for Mauresmo-Serena was Luke Arrowsmith (closest scoreline), who goes into the hat for the prize. The competition is open to all ages: your trip will be tailored to your requirements, junior or adult. I'll cover tuition, accommodation and meals. You buy the air ticket. Last year's winner was reader Rachel O'Reilly, whose diary of her time in Florida can be read in full in the sports section of this newspaper's website. To enter, email me before the match starts at n.bollettieri@independent.co.uk

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