What should we read into Ana Ivanovic [the women’s No1] dropping a set today?

She’s not played that much - only one tournament since Wimbledon - and she has had little chance to practise because of a thumb injury. It was a very careless performance, with numerous unforced errors and it was painful to sit though it. The other girl [Vera Dushevina of Russia] was so nervous at the start that Ivanovic was in control before she had played any decent shots. But the Serb got through and she’ll probably think to herself that’s one out of the way and try to forget about the fact that she did not play particularly well. There’s so little to go on as a form guide in the women’s game at the moment. Caroline Wozniacki from Denmark has been looking good form but none of the really top players can say that. Elena Dementieva won the Olympic title but she’s never quite done it in grand slams before, though perhaps this could be her year and this time maybe she’ll be the bride rather than the bridesmaid.

Which excites you more at the moment, the men’s game or the women’s, and why?

There is no contest at present in my opinion, there are so many good storylines in the men’s game. Can Roger Federer come back, can Rafael Nadal win his third grand slam tournament in the row, or can Novak Djokovic end his grand slam year in the same way as he started it [by winning the Australian Open]? There are so many better quality matches in the men’s event, unlike the women’s where it tends not to get interesting until the quarter-finals. Take today [Tuesday] for instance. Tommy Haas, who is a always dangerous player, beat Richard Gasquet, the man who lost to Andy Murray in that classic match at Wimbledon, in five sets. You just don’t get matches like that so early on in the women’s draw.

Do you subscribe to the view that Roger Federer is a fading force. How will he feel if he goes through 2008 without winning a grand slam tournament?

At Wimbledon, he said “judge me after the US Open”. So if he hasn’t won an Olympic singles title or a grand slam tournament it is a year of underachievement. There is a tendency to forget that he spent 237 weeks ranked as the top player in the world which is a truly astonishing achievement. He’s just not had as good a year as Rafael Nadal, who has had a truly exceptional one. The Swiss has not been coming through in the crucial matches and he has to find that habit again. He’s also got Novak Djokovic in his half of the draw so he going to have to work very hard. But he won the doubles [with Stanislas Wawrinka] at the Olympics and maybe that could be the thing that turns his season around.

So who are your tips for both finals?

Wozniacki has got a really good chance, but I see Dementieva getting the better of her and from the other half of the draw, Serena Williams. Yes, the Russian will be buoyed by her victory in Beijing, but I just think Serena will have too much for her on home soil, she has history here. As for the men, let’s get away from the obvious and say Djokovic against Andy Murray. I really do think Murray has got a heck of a chance. At some time Nadal has got to have an off day and he was not at his best in his opening match. I know Murray has a poor record against the Spaniard but he really is closing the gap.

What are your predictions the two Britons in round two?

I think Murray will win in straight sets, [Michael] Llodra is tricky but will not pose him too many problems the way he is playing. And I really do believe [Anne ] Keothavong [who faces Francesca Schiavone] can make it through to the third round [and become the first British woman to do so since 1991], which would give women’s tennis a huge boost. Let’s be positive - I think she’ll win in three sets.

Neil Harman was talking to Richard Neale