Manic Monday has finally arrived upon us after a hectic week of tennis at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. As per #Wimbledon’s traditions, the Middle Sunday allows for the players to have an extra day of rest ahead of the busy Monday, and we are back with all eight fourth-round matches when play resumes. Here are three matches you must not miss amidst all the craze!
Johanna Konta vs Petra Kvitova
It all seems like 2017 again — with #JohannaKonta back inside the top-20, finding her best tennis, and now returning to the second week at Wimbledon. The Brit reached the fourth round with a fantastic comeback victory over Sloane Stephens, whom she had beaten on four different occasions this year. After surviving tight matches against Ana Bogdan and Katerina Siniakova, Konta is tipped to excel in front of her home crowd this year.
However, if she were to replicate her semifinal run, she would have to defeat a two-time champion on Monday as #PetraKvitova awaits her. Coming into the tournament with less media attention than usual, Kvitova seems to enjoy playing under the radar as she was under an injury cloud due to a left forearm injury. The Czech beat three very tricky players in succession — the in-form Ons Jabeur, the resurgent Kristina Mladenovic and Magda Linette.
A return to Centre Court for the first time since 2017, Kvitova will battle home favourite Konta for a spot in the quarterfinals. Surprisingly, this is the first time Kvitova had reached the second week at Wimbledon since her title run in 2014, and she had never lost at the fourth round of the tournament. She should be strong enough to fend off the Konta challenge on Monday.
Prediction: Kvitova d. Konta in three sets
Simona Halep vs Cori Gauff
#CoriGauff will play the biggest match of her career in the fourth round of Wimbledon as she goes up against world number seven Simona Halep. Having already broken records this week by being the youngest qualifier in Wimbledon’s open era history, Gauff made it all the way to the second week after stunning childhood idol Venus Williams, 2017 semifinalist Magdalena Rybarikova, and the big-serving Polona Hercog in succession.
Scheduled on Centre Court on Friday, Gauff saved two match points and retrieved from 3-6, 2-5 down to beat Hercog in what was the most-watched match of the tournament so far, with 5.2 million viewers across the BBC network in just Britain alone. Gauff, just at the mere age of 15-years-old, is the youngest player to reach the second week at Wimbledon since Jennifer Capriati.
Her opponent will be #SimonaHalep, who has been flying under the radar throughout the tournament. Starting the tournament with a fantastic 6-4, 7-5 win over the giant-killing Aliaksandra Sasnovich, the Romanian followed it up with a three-set win over compatriot Mihaela Buzarnescu and a complete masterclass over fellow former world number one Victoria Azarenka.
Gauff, as shown in her past matches, showed that ice runs in her veins. She showed no signs of pressure or nerves and will be fearless against Halep as well. However, I think a player of Halep’s calibre would be too much for the young American, who will definitely have a great experience on Court 1 no matter the scoreline.
Prediction: Halep d. Gauff in straight sets
Ashleigh Barty vs Alison Riske
World number one #AshleighBarty continues to dominate the proceedings with a strong showing at Wimbledon thus far, strolling into the second week for the first time in her career without losing a set en route. Barty has been clinical on her serve throughout the tournament and looks to extend a 15-match winning streak against the in-form #AlisonRiske.
Riske will be Barty’s biggest challenger so far, with the American heading into the tournament with consecutive titles in Ilkley (ITF) and ‘s-Hertogenbosch, having saved match points against Bertens in the latter. This will be the American’s first second-week appearance as well, and her path could be the most difficult amongst all the remaining players.
Barty steered past Zheng Saisai, Alison Van Uytvanck and wildcard Harriet Dart with a combined loss of just 12 games. Whereas, Riske stunned Donna Vekic 7-5 in the final set before clinching a narrow win over Ivana Jorovic 9-7 in the decider. Coming from 0-3, 0-40 down, the American produced another wonderful comeback against Belinda Bencic as she exacted revenge for last year’s loss here.
Barty and Riske met once previously — and surprisingly it was Riske who prevailed 7-6, 7-5 at an ITF event held on grass a couple of years ago. Having been in fantastic form, the American will pose a very tough challenge for the on-fire Australian. Barty had not faced a high-quality opponent this tournament and could be shaken in the early stages, but she should still grab the win.
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