New Delhi: The Indian contingent at this year's Championships is probably the strongest ever in terms of genuine title contenders. It's not a common occurrence to have four individuals having a realistic chance of setting their hands on the prized silverware in a country where tennis is still very much a sport, not religion.
The latest success story doing the rounds has been the formidable partnership of Sania Mirza and her Russian teammate Elina Vesnina who have been seeded fourth for the 2011 Championships. The duo made it all the way to the women's singles final at this year's French Open before coming up short against the Czech pair of Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka.
Although the wheels seem to have come off Sania's singles game, it's heartening to see her competing at the top level once again, even if it's with a little help from someone who is on the same side of the court as her.
Battle scarred veterans in every sense of the word, the Indian Express of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi seeded third for this year's Wimbledon, have now got to share the limelight with Rohan Bopanna and Pakistani counterpart Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi.
Although the Lea-Hesh combination which reunited for the third time earlier this year have all the records to their name, the Indo-Pak Express of Bopanna and Qureshi have been a force to reckon with ever since reaching the men's doubles finals at the US Open last year.
It's also worth taking into account that Paes and Bhupathi have seven mixed doubles tournament victories to their name apart from their six doubles titles in grand slams. The two will be more than eager to get off the blocks with their respective partners after the draws for the event are declared on 22nd June.
Commonwealth and Asian Games gold medallist, Somdev Devvarman may well hold the key to India's campaign in the singles event at Wimbledon 2011.
With wins over players like Marcos Baghdatis (Cyprus) and Xavier Malisse (Belgium) this year, Devvarman finds himself ranked 68th in the world, which is an all time high for him.
He will take on Denis Gremelmayr of Germany in the first round at this year's Championships, and rounds off a truly remarkable presence for the Indians at what is being celebrated as the 125th edition of the tournament.
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