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Wimbledon: Women’s Draw Preview

By Jake Fletcher

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Wimbledon: Will Serena secure another ‘Serena Slam’?

Wimbledon is here! Though the other three Slams can now consider themselves equal in terms of size, prestige and prize money, Wimbledon is still regarded as special considering it’s the oldest surviving tennis tournament in the world. Whether its due to the sacrosanct traditions, pristine grass courts or the strawberries and cream, Wimbledon has always been and will always be the centrepiece of the game.

Here, I will take a look at the top eight seeds and evaluate their chances of reaching the quarter finals. The verdict will be either yes or no.

(Seed)

(1) Serena Williams- Verdict: Yes

Williams is one Slam away from completing the non-calendar year ‘Grand Slam’ for a second time. As always, she hasn’t played any tournaments since winning the French Open. Though many consider her a shoo-in for the title, considering she’s already won it five times, she hasn’t performed well here in the past couple of years and will certainly be feeling the weight of expectation. Her draw is tough, featuring potential clashes with Dominika Cibulkova and (16) Venus Williams. If the recent past is anything to go by, she will probably struggle through to reach the quarter finals.

(2) Petra Kvitova- Verdict: No

Kvitova was forced to withdraw from Eastbourne with a sore throat, so hasn’t played a match in a month. Therefore, she’ll feel even more nervous approaching her first round match, not least because she’s the defending champion. Though she’s made a couple of inspirational runs to the title in recent years, I don’t feel confident in her ability to handle the pressure this time around. Eastbourne finalist, (13) Agnieszka Radwanska or (17) Elina Svitolina are just as likely to reach the quarters as Kvitova in my opinion.

(3) Simona Halep- Verdict: No

Halep has been out of form recently, losing in the second round in Paris and the quarters on grass at Birmingham. No doubt for this reason, she’s just split with coach, Victor Ionita. Therefore, Halep comes into Wimbledon without the sense of confidence and security which underpinned her semi final run here last year. Though her first couple of matches shouldn’t worry her, potential clashes with (15) Timea Bacsinszky, (18) Sabine Lisicki or (26) Svetlana Kuznetsova further down the line certainly will.

(4) Maria Sharapova- Verdict: Yes

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Sharapova’s took a month off after her disappointing fourth round loss at the French Open. Worryingly, Sharapova hasn’t reached the quarters here since 2011, and that was the first time since 2006. Over ten years since she burst into international prominence by winning Wimbledon at seventeen, Sharapova seems to have lost her grass court touch. Her opening match against in-form Brit, Johanna Konta won’t be easy but from there on in, the draw remains quite open. (14) Andrea Petkovic, (24) Flavia Pennetta and Daria Gavrilova appear to be the most obvious threats  in this section, though I couldn’t whole heartedly bet on anyone of them surviving the early rounds themselves.

(5) Caroline Wozniacki- Verdict: No

Wozniacki was forced to retire during her semi final at Eastbourne with a back complaint. Whether she’s fit or not, her draw is exceptionally tough, considering she could face Rosmalen champion, (31) Camila Giorgi and Birmingham champion, (10) Angelique Kerber to reach the quarters. As she’s never reached the quarters before, it seems doubtful that she will this time considering her draw.

(6) Lucie Safarova- Verdict: No

Safarova might still be experiencing a post French Open haze, considering she lost her opener in Eastbourne. I worry that her inexperience in terms of handling the pressure of being a big seed and defending semi final points will get to her. (11) Karolina Pliskova, Kaia Kanepi and Sloane Stephens may all bar her way to the quarters.

(7) Ana Ivanovic- Verdict: No

Ivanovic has only played the one match on grass this year, losing in a third set tiebreak at Birmingham. Though she has reached the semis at Wimbledon before, she hasn’t even made the quarters since then in 2007. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Eastbourne champion, (30) Belinda Bencic or Tsvetana Pironkova could await in the 3rd round. Even if she were to progress, (23) Victoria Azarenka will then probably stand between her and the quarters considering (9) Carla Suarez Navarro will probably lose early.

(8) Ekaterina Makarova- Verdict: No

Makarova had an unusually poor Eastbourne in losing her opening match. Though she reached the quarters here last year, the odds of her doing so again seem slim, as they do for last year’s finalist, (12) Eugenie Bouchard. In what is undoubtedly the most open eighth of the draw, there are a number of other players who could reach the quarters, ranging from (21) Madison Keys to Nottingham champion, Ana Konjuh.

Next: Wimbledon: Bottom half, Murray quarter analysis

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