Wimbledon 2013: Experts' picks for the women's draw

2. Early exit

Caroline Wozniacki – An early exit on the cards again?

Haresh Ramchandani: Maria Kirilenko is finally into the world’s top 10 but the Russian has drawn the young British hopeful Laura Robson in the first round. Kirilenko reached the quarters here last year and likes coming into the net but Robson’s powerful game and crowd support will make her a dangerous first round opponent.

Anand Datla: I would have to go with Li Na on current form – she hasn’t been past the second round of her last three tournaments, including the one in Eastbourne. Also in contention is the 11th seeded Roberta Vinci, who could be the first major departure from Wimbledon.

Roh: 10th seed Samantha Stosur has always been troubled on grass. Looking at her previous years’ results at Wimbledon, an early exit seems quite likely for the 2011 US Open champion.

Varun Jog: Caroline Wozniacki‘s below-par results this year are putting her in danger of being omitted from this category very soon. While she is still around in the Top 10, she remains a perennial favourite to make an early exit, unless things change dramatically for her.

Ram Narayanan: The Danish girl Caroline Wozniacki might have been ranked No. 1 player a couple of years ago, but lately her performances have been rather miserable. She has seen so many early exits going into this year’s Wimbledon that I have lost count. She never went past the fourth round at the All England Club even when she was the number one player in the world. So going by her current form, I do not see her doing anything special, which could keep her alive for the second week. I predict a second round loss for her.

Sudeshna Banerjee: The ladies draw has thrown up quite a few riveting blockbusters as early as the first round. But the one I would like to pick for an upset would be the Russian 10th seed Maria Kirilenko‘s match versus British No. 1 Laura Robson. A vociferous home crowd, a comfortable surface and a new coach to cheer her on – Robson has it all stacked in her favour. Kirilenko – even though she is playing some of her best tennis – might just find things a little too tough if Robson can get her serve going.

Musab Abid: Angelique Kerber has done a fabulous job of carving a permanent place for herself in the top 10; she has consistently punched above her height, and mad props to her for that. But I keep waiting for the inevitable moment where she runs into an opponent too powerful for her (of which there are many) too early in a tournament, and grass is as likely a surface as any for that to happen.