#Wimbledon has finally arrived upon us — and the number of storylines is already massive. The packed top half of the draw is ridiculous with 37 combined Major titles and four former champions being squeezed near each other. There could be a repeat of last year’s semifinal and final in this year’s third and fourth round respectively. The new world number one faces a challenging draw if she were to complete the rare Paris-London double.
It’s youth versus experience, which will prevail?
First Section: Barty hopes to avoid landmines
First Round Matches to Watch: [22] Vekic vs Riske, Pavlyuchenkova vs Bencic
Newly-crowned Roland Garros champion and world number one #AshleighBarty will face #Zheng Saisai in the opening round, and the Chinese had taken a set in both of their career meetings hence that would, by no means, be an easy opener to a tricky Wimbledon campaign. Former world number two #SvetlanaKuznetsova could await next — though she will have to escape a tough encounter against #AlisonVanUytvanck, who reached the fourth round last year.
26th seed #GarbineMuguruza was the champion here a couple of years ago but she has since fallen out of the top-10 and has yet found her A-game once again. A potential Barty-Muguruza could occur in the third round and the Spaniard is definitely not a force to be reckoned with on grass.
22nd seed #DonnaVekic has had some tough luck on grass this year — losing a heartbreaking final against Garcia in Nottingham, facing Barty in Birmingham and initially facing Konta in Eastbourne before withdrawing. This time, she faces the in-form #AlisonRiske, who lifted the title in ‘s-Hertogenbosch and has always played well on grass.
Another first-round clash to watch will be the encounter between 13th seed #BelindaBencic and the dangerous #AnastasiaPavlyuchenkova. The Russian, a former quarterfinalist and a quarterfinalist at the Australian Open earlier this year, is out-of-form but is still equipped with weapons to defeat any top player. Watch out for the hard-hitting #KaiaKanepi in this section as well.
Prediction: Barty d. Vekic
Second Section: Serena and Kerber set for mouth-watering rematch
First Round Matches to Watch: [30] Suarez Navarro vs Stosur
Defending finalist and seven-time champion #SerenaWilliams is back looking to get one step further than last year, but she will have a hard time en route. #KristynaPliskova could pose some danger in the second round and there might be a repeat of last year’s semifinal against #JuliaGoerges following next. If that is not enough, we could have #AngeliqueKerber going up against Williams in the fourth round.
Lurking in the draw is also former champion #MariaSharapova, who opens against #PaulineParmentier, before a possible showdown against either 30th seed #CarlaSuarezNavarro or #SamanthaStosur. Kerber opens her campaign against fellow countrywoman #TatjanaMaria and might face Sharapova in a blockbuster third-round clash having won all four last meetings with her.
Prediction: S.Williams d. Kerber
Third Section: Can Bertens take full advantage?
First Round Matches to Watch: Petkovic vs [WC] Niculescu
Fourth seed #KikiBertens will be the massive favourite to book her spot in the quarterfinals as it seems that her path to the last eight is rather clear. She goes up against #MandyMinella in the opening round and her earliest challenger would be either the 32nd seed #LesiaTsurenko or the crafty #BarboraStrycova in the third round. Wildcard #MonicaNiculescu, who won the ITF 100k event in Ilkley, will have a battle against #AndreaPetkovic in an intriguing clash as well.
15th seed #WangQiang has never gotten past the second round at Wimbledon — and could face 2014 finalist #EugenieBouchard in the second round. The Canadian has not won a tennis match since February but you could just never underestimate her ability to produce a resurgent run out of nowhere. 21st seed #EliseMertens owns a 0-3 head-to-head record against the Chinese in her career and it seems like Wang will be the favourite to reach the fourth round.
Prediction: Bertens d. Wang
Fourth Section: Kvitova returns to action
First Round Matches to Watch: [9] Stephens vs Bacsinszky, Diatchenko vs Mladenovic, Jabeur vs [6] Kvitova
Ninth seed #SloaneStephens has never performed well on grass bar her quarterfinal run in 2013. She faces the incredibly tricky and unlucky #TimeaBacsinszky, who had to deal with a series of injuries in her career, in the first round and that match could end up one way or another. Nonetheless, the American had defeated the Swiss in all of their previous meetings which still gives her the edge.
Home favourite and 19th seed #JohannaKonta could await in the third round, and the 2017 semifinalist will be looking to build on her confidence recently. Having a breakthrough clay-court season, the Brit is back at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club as a dark horse. She has a decent draw to work with although that potential fourth-round clash with Kvitova could be problematic.
#PetraKvitova has just returned from a left forearm injury which forced her to withdraw from Roland Garros. She faces the in-form #OnsJabeur in the opener, but the Tunisian had to concede a walkover in the Eastbourne semifinals after rolling her ankle in her previous match. With both players under injury clouds, this arises the opportunity for rising star #AmandaAnisimova to produce another deep run.
The 17-year-old American reached the Roland Garros semifinals and could take full advantage here in London but the winner of the first-round clash between #VitaliaDiatchenko, who stunned Sharapova in a famous upset last year, and #KristinaMladenovic, the unseeded but capable player, could take advantage as well.
Providing that she is fully recovered and healthy, Kvitova should be the overwhelming favourite to go deep at her favourite tournament once more.
Prediction: Kvitova d. Konta
Fifth Section: Can Svitolina regain her top form?
First Round Matches to Watch: Svitolina vs Gavrilova
#ElinaSvitolina is on a three-match losing streak from Roland Garros to Birmingham to Eastbourne. She has yet to gain her footing after sustaining a problematic knee injury in March and her confidence looks to be at rock bottom. However, she should still be able to defeat #DariaGavrilova in her opening match but #MargaritaGasparyan could be an issue in the next round. Gasparyan defeated the Ukrainian in Birmingham and would look to upset the eighth seed once again.
24th seed #PetraMartic is currently flying under the radar with her stellar year but faces a very tricky opener against the big-serving #JenniferBrady, whose game is absolutely suited for grass. Should she get past the tough test, 12th seed #AnastasijaSevastova could await in the third round. Martic, with her booming confidence currently, should be able to reach the second week for the second time in three years.
Prediction: Martic d. Gasparyan
Sixth Section: Title favourite Pliskova looks to break the duck
First Round Matches to Watch: [PR] Rogers vs [20] Kontaveit, [28] Hsieh vs Ostapenko
16th seed #MarketaVondrousova has not quite found the formula to her game on grass but has a manageable draw as she faces #MadisonBrengle in the opener. Compatriot #KarolinaMuchova could make some noise in the second round but the Roland Garros finalist should still be able to ease into the third round.
20th seed #AnettKontaveit has been struggling with her form for a long period of time and this gives the returning #ShelbyRogers a golden opportunity to cause the upset. The American has the game which works well on grass and will be looking to reach the second week for the first time in her career.
Defending semifinalist #JelenaOstapenko finds herself in a dangerous position — she needs to win every possible match but the draw does not seem to be helping her. 28th seed #HsiehSuwei awaits in the first round and a opening-round exit could cause the Latvian to fall out of the top-70 in the rankings.
Third seed #KarolinaPliskova was flawless in her Eastbourne title run and certainly, she will look to carry her momentum into Wimbledon as well. Having not gone past the fourth round in her career, the Czech will look to break the duck having received a favourable draw as well. This should be Pliskova’s biggest chance to reach the semifinals.
Prediction: Ka.Pliskova d. Rogers
Seventh Section: Sabalenka, Venus, Keys, Halep to vie for one quarterfinal spot
First Round Matches to Watch: [7] Halep vs Sasnovich, V.Williams vs [Q] Gauff, Rybarikova vs [10] Sabalenka
This could be the most unpredictable section in the entire draw. Seventh seed #SimonaHalep opens against #AliaksandraSasnovich, who vanquished title favourite Kvitova in last year’s Wimbledon as well. Former top-ranked #VictoriaAzarenka faces #AlizeCornet before a possible match-up against defending quarterfinalist and 29th seed #DariaKasatkina. The Russian recently brought Carlos Martinez into her team and is in desperate need of points as she prevents a major ranking dip.
17th seed #MadisonKeys came into Wimbledon without any warm-up tournaments for the third consecutive year as she continues to play a limited schedule. #ViktoriaKuzmova will look to challenge her authority on grass in the second round but the American seems the favourite to progress through.
#ArynaSabalenka finally found some momentum in her quarterfinal run at Eastbourne after defeating Caroline Wozniacki en route. The Belarusian has nothing to defend here and will play with no pressure but faces a tricky #MagdalenaRybarikova in the first round. The Slovakian was a semifinalist back in 2017 and adores grass, though she has since fallen to the 141st spot in the rankings. However, I feel that Eastbourne was the turning point of Sabalenka’s horrifying season and the Belarusian seems set for a deep run here.
The history books were rewritten as #CoriGauff became the youngest female qualifier in the open era at the age of 15 years and 122 days old. She will get the chance to face her idol, #VenusWilliams, who is 24 years older, in the opening round which will definitely be a new experience for the youngster. Williams will be the huge favourite to prevail and could face Sabalenka in the second round. A five-time champion and a finalist as recent as 2017, Venus remains a huge threat to the field.
Prediction: Sabalenka d. Halep
Eighth Section: Can Osaka bounce back?
First Round Matches to Watch: Yastremska vs Giorgi, Putintseva vs [2] Osaka
#CarolineWozniacki did not seem to be in the honeymoon mood as she clinched good wins over Petkovic and Flipkens to reach the third round in Eastbourne last week. She faces #SaraSorribesTormo in the first round but could face #VeronikaKudermetova in the second round. Kudermetova defeated the Dane at Roland Garros earlier in May and has a decent chance to repeat the win once more.
Nottingham champion and 23rd seed #CarolineGarcia seems like the favourite to reach the fourth round here. She opens against #ZhangShuai, who does not seem to favour grass, and could easily reach the second week without a hassle.
A name to watch out for would be 27th seed #SofiaKenin, who had recently won the Mallorca title having saved match points against Bencic. An all-hard hitting battle between #DayanaYastremska and the returning #CamilaGiorgi will be one to watch, although they will not likely beat Kenin, who can grind any opponent down on a good day.
#IgaSwiatek, who was bagelled in her last three defeats and collected a combined six games in those matches, seems to be low in confidence but a winnable opener could provide her with the boost she desperate needs.
Second seed #NaomiOsaka lost to #YuliaPutintseva in the second round in Birmingham, but will have a chance to exact revenge as the pair will clash in the first round here at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Having not found her best tennis recently, this could provide yet another chance for the Kazakh to claim the huge win. Even if Putintseva does not defeat Osaka, Kenin should have the weapons to.
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