The top eight women's seeds

1 VENUS WILLIAMS
Born: Lynwood, California, 17 June 1980.
Lives: Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Height: 6ft 1in.
Weight: 9st 11lb.
Plays: Right-handed.
Prize money: £6.8m.
Wimbledon record: 1st rd (1997), QF, QF, W, W.

Aiming for a third consecutive Wimbledon singles title, having made a successful defence of her Grand Slam championships here and also at the United States Open last year. Achieved the world No 1 ranking in February, and probably would have arrived at the top of the women's game sooner but for injuries. Seeded to play her younger sister, Serena, in the final.

2 SERENA WILLIAMS
Born: Saginaw, Michigan, 26 Sept 1981.
Lives: Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Height: 5ft 10in.
Weight: 10st 5lb.
Plays: Right-handed.
Prize money: £5.06m.
Wimbledon record: 3rd rd (1998), –, SF, QF.

Defeated Venus in the final of the French Open 16 days ago, having lost to her sister in the United States Open final in September last year. Seems to have overcome her tendency to freeze when playing Venus in major championships. It will be interesting to see if this applies in SW19.

3 JENNIFER CAPRIATI
Born: New York, 29 March 1976.
Lives: Wesley Chapel, Florida.
Height: 5ft 9in.
Weight: 10st.
Plays: Right-handed.
Prize money: £3.89m.
Wimbledon record: 4th rd (1990), SF, QF, QF, –, –, –,–, 2, 2, 4, SF.

The main danger to Serena Williams in the lower half of the draw. Capriati, who dominated the first half of last year, winning the Australian Open and the French Open, was unable to make a successful defence of the French title, although the competitiveness of her semi-final against Serena was the highlight of the women's tournament at Roland Garros.

4 MONICA SELES
Born: Novi Sad, Yugoslavia, 2 Dec 1973.
Lives: Sarasota, Florida.
Height: 5ft 11in.
Weight: 11st.
Plays: Left-handed.
Prize money: £9,42m Wimbledon record: 4th rd (1989), QF, –, F, –, –, –, 2, 3, QF, 3, QF, –.

About to make her ninth appearance at the All England Club, and seems pleased simply to be playing tennis and enjoying her matches towards the end of a career beset by traumas. Nine Grand Slam singles titles is an impressive return considering that a stabbing put her out of the game for 27 months when she was only 19 year old. There probably would not be a more popular winner, but she will do well to reach the semi-finals.

5 KIM CLIJSTERS
Born: Bilzen, Belgium, 8 June 1983.
Lives: Bilzen.
Height: 5ft 8in.
Weight: 10st 7lb.
Plays: Right-handed.
Prize money: £1,52m.
Wimbledon record: 4th rd (1999), 2, QF.

Lost to Lindsay Davenport in the quarter-finals last year after showing that she enjoyed competing on grass as much as her boyfriend, Lleyton Hewitt, and her father, Leo Clijsters, the former Belgian footballer. Projected to play Venus Williams in the quarter-finals.

6 JUSTINE HENIN
Born: Liège, Belgium, 1 June 1982
Lives: Marloie, Belgium.
Height: 5ft 6in. Weight: 9st.
Plays: Right-handed.
Prize money: £1.17m.
Wimbledon record: 1st (2000), F

Runner-up to Venus Williams in the final last year, having recovered from a set down to overcome Jennifer Capriati in the semi-finals. Although one of the smaller players on the tour, she strikes the ball with impressive timing and depth. Projected to play Seles in the quarter-finals.

7 JELENA DOKIC
Born: Belgrade, Yugoslavia, 12 April 1983.
Lives: Belgrade and Tampa, Florida.
Height: 5ft 9in.
Weight: 9st 5lb.
Plays: Right-handed.
Prize money: £1.4m
Wimbledon record: QF (1999), SF, 4.

Her career took off at Wimbledon in 1999 when, as a qualifier, ranked No 129 in the world, she caused one of the biggest upsets of the open era by eliminating Martina Hingis, the No 1 seed, in the first round. In 2000, Dokic reached the semi-finals, losing to Lindsay Davenport, who also beat her in the fourth round last year.

8 SANDRINE TESTUD
Born: Lyon, France, 3 April 1972.
Lives: Lyon.
Height: 5ft 9in. Weight: 10st 7lb
Plays: Right-handed.
Prize money: £2.43m.
Wimbledon record: 1st rd (1992), 1, 1, 2, 2, 4, 4, 3, 1, 4.

One of the most experienced players on the WTA Tour, but has yet to advance beyond the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam championship and that was in 1998 at the Australian Open. Reached the fourth round at Wimbledon for the third time last year, taking only three games off Capriati.