'There's something about Wimbledon'
By CNN's Candy Reid
(CNN) -- The final day of the French Open marks the start of the grass-court season, so the players have to adapt from one extreme surface to the other in a matter of days.
It's not an easy transition, but those who are successful at it will be well rewarded -- with a tournament high £10 million as the total purse for this year's Wimbledon, which starts on June 20.
If you've never been to the All England Championship, I urge you to go.
There's something about Wimbledon -- the Fred Perry statue, the expensive strawberries, the rain -- that sends a shiver down one's spine. And of course, the tennis is pretty special too!
Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova are the holders. His win last year was expected. Hers certainly wasn't.
Federer has proved time and time again that he can play on any surface. But he admits that grass is his favorite, with Wimbledon being the tournament closest to his heart.
It was at the 2001 Championship that the graceful Swiss really became a household name, stopping seven-time champion Pete Sampras in his tracks in the fourth round.
Last year, Federer lost just a set en-route to his second successive title, and it will take a meteoric effort from another player to stop him claiming a hat trick.
Sharapova was just 17 when she became the first Russian woman to win Wimbledon, and she made it look easy -- claiming the trophy with a straight sets win over Serena Williams in the final.
Can she do it again? Of course. But Serena will be out for revenge and now that the Belgian duo are fit again, it should be a great battle. I for one will be looking on with interest!
