GAME on!

Former British tennis pro TIM HENMAN on the players to watch as this year's championships get under way at SW19..

- SEAN MARLAND

WIMBLEDON

LIVE MONDAY-FRIDAY, TIMES VARY, BBC1, BBC2 & BBC IPLAYER SPORT

Serve up the strawberries and cream as the gates of the All England Lawn Tennis Club swing open this Monday to welcome thousands of fans to its world-famous courts for this year’s Wimbledon.

Over the next 14 days until Sunday 16 July, the BBC will bring us all the action from SW19, with Clare Balding taking over as lead presenter (see our box, right) following Grand Slam-winning British champion Sue Barker’s decision to call game, set and match on the role after last summer’s tournament.

Clare will be joined in the studio by some of the biggest names in the sport, including former Wimbledon champions John McEnroe, Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King and Pat Cash as well as British four-time Wimbledon semi-finalist Tim Henman, who will provide expert commentary.

Here, in an exclusive interview, Tim, 48, chats to TV Times about the players to watch out for in the 136th Championships…

Many British fans will be pinning their hopes on two-time Wimbledon champion Sir Andy Murray in the men’s singles tournament. How do you rate his chances, Tim?

With Andy’s experience, knowledge of grass courts and form, I think he can definitely get into the second week, and then anything’s possible.

Sir Andy feared his career might be over before having hip resurfacing surgery in 2019. How difficult is it to come back from something like that?

I have so much respect for him because he’s achieved so much in the game yet still has the hunger and desire to keep training and putting in the hours despite all the setbacks he’s faced in recent years.