If you were to take a straw poll ahead of today's women's final at Wimbledon, you would be hard pushed to find too many people, maybe even any, who believe that Vera Zvonareva will become the women's champion. The 25-year-old is appearing in her first grand slam final and is taking on Serena Williams, the world No1 and winner of 12 grand slam titles, who has not even dropped a set on her way to the final.
On paper that makes sense but, thankfully for Zvonareva, Wimbledon finals are not played on paper. Anything can happen, even though it would be a massive surprise should she actually come out on top. Seeded 21st but working her way back up the rankings after serious ankle injuries, the Russian is better known for some of her more nutty antics on the court, but she has shown throughout the past fortnight that she is far better equipped than at any stage in her career to get the job done. And if anything, being written off suits her just fine.
"I always believe in myself and I don't care about what everyone says," Zvonareva said. "I'll just have to go out there on the court and try to play my best tennis. I know if I play my best I can beat anyone on the other side of the net. That's what I'm going to try to do and I never look at any odds or comparisons. It's not important to me."
Zvonareva's meltdowns on court are legendary. She has broken rackets, hit herself in the face, punched her knees and thrown strapping around. But there is something immensely likeable about her, not least the fact that she really could not care less what anyone thinks of her.
"I don't care what people say," she said. "I can break the racket, but it doesn't mean I'm not there in the match. I'm trying all the time. Right now experience helps me a lot. I've been in a lot of different situations in the past and I think I know how to turn the matches around much better now. Even if something is not working, I know in my head that I just have to take it one point at a time and keep trying. In the end, we will see what's going to happen."
While Zvonareva will head home to resume her studies for a master's degree in international economic relations, Williams expects nothing less than to be leaving London with a fourth Wimbledon title in her possession. The American has been largely untroubled and when someone has had the temerity to match her, she has just taken strength and pulled away.
Zvonareva does boast a win over Williams, having beaten her in Cincinnati four years ago, but trails 5-1 in their head-to-heads and it seems the only thing that could stop the top seed would be complacency. However, after making that mistake once before – against Monica Seles in Los Angeles nine years ago – she has vowed never to do so again. "I never, ever get overconfident," she said. "Then you end up losing the match. It's important not to do that."
Victory for Williams would lift her alongside Billie Jean King with four Wimbledon crowns [in the Open Era], one fewer than her sister Venus has. But a 13th grand slam title overall would be one more than King managed, and place her sixth on the all-time list. Williams is well aware of her place in the history of the women's game. Having won the Australian Open in January, she is adding to her total at a speedy rate and should she continue over the next few years, Williams may start closing in on the overall leader – the Australian Margaret Court, who has 24.
It may seem a long way off, but Williams is focused and justly proud of her achievements. "It's been a great decade and I feel honoured to be a part of it," she said. "Just to have my name mentioned at Wimbledon is amazing. It's a really cool feeling [to see her name on the winners' board] because you work so hard to reach that. To see it there is unbelievable. And always once you have something, you always want it and want to keep it. It's always something that I desire."
As usual, it is will probably come down to whoever wants it most, and usually, that means a Williams victory.