For Panelist Predictions of Day 4 Men’s matches, click here.
Wimbledon Day 4 brings with it the end of the second round a ton more tantalizing matchups. Our writers look at the five best women’s matches of the day. Predicting for us today are LWOS writers Finn Ranson, Niall Clarke, and Linda Celia Ellis.
Garbine Muguruza vs Mirjana Lucic-Baroni
John
The Spaniard looked awfully impressive in defeating the tricky American Varvara Lepchenko while Lucic-Baroni survived a 3-set marathon against Yaroslava Shvedova, winning 7-5 in the decider. Their only meeting was at last year’s U.S. Open, with the Croat prevailing in straight sets. In what could be a tight, tense affair, the 20th seed will be fresher and progress to Round 3.
Prediction: Muguruza in 3
Linda
Muguruza has the powerful ground strokes but her movement on the grass may be a little suspect. Lucic-Baroni has a lot of match play experience and she may be able to exploit Muguruza’s mobility and a use her veteran grit to get through this match.
Prediction: Lucic-Baroni in 2
Finn
Lucic-Baroni has been on the pro tour since 1997 and actually reached the semifinals of Wimbledon in 1999, when Muguruza would have been just five years old. Muguruza has not looked comfortable on the grass in the warm up events – losing in Round One of Birmingham and Round Two of Eastbourne. With the hot weather though, the grass courts will have hardened up and the bounce will certainly be much higher; this will suit the extreme grip of Muguruza and she should have the quality to see the match through, in spite of the gulf in experience.
Prediction: Muguruza in 2 tight sets
Agniezska Radwanska vs Ajla Tomljanovic
John
The 2012 finalist had an excellent grass court lead in to The Championships, reaching the semifinals at Nottingham and the final at Eastbourne before defeating Lucie Hradecka in the 1st Round here. In Tomjlanovic, she faces a player who beat her in the 3rd Round of last year’s French Open, but has never fared well on grass. That continued with a 1-3 grass record this season coming into Wimbledon, the lone victory in Eastbourne qualifying. The Croat has the game to trouble the 13th seed, especially with the conditions benefitting big hitters and servers such as her. However, Radwanska has regained her form with grass under her feet and I expect that to continue in this one.
Prediction: Radwanska in 2
Linda
Aga Radwanska has had a solid grass court season after struggling throughout the clay season. Coming off a final appearance in Eastbourne her crafty game adapts well to the grass. Tomljanovic lost in the first round in Birmingham on the grass and did not make it through qualifying to play in the Eastbourne main draw. I think Radwanska will be playing with a lot of confidence and should take this match in straight sets.
Prediction: Radwanska in 2
Finn
Interestingly, Tomljanovic’s only top 10 win of her career has come against Radwanska, and that meeting is the only time they have faced one another. Such a marginal lead in a head to head and only on the basis of one match, though, will not provide much of a mental advantage to Tomljanovic nor will it unnerve Radwanska. The Pole has also had many more matches on the grass than her opposition – reaching the final of Eastbourne and the semis of Nottingham. This match shouldn’t cut her grass court season short.
Prediction: Radwanska in 2
Christina McHale vs Sabine Lisicki
John
The German always plays her best at SW19 and her 1st Round match was no different, defeating Jarmila Gajdosova 7-5 6-4 while McHale knocked off the returning Johanna Larsson 6-3 6-2. With the conditions the way they have been so far, the American doesn’t have the weapons to trouble the 2013 finalist even if Lisicki is erratic at times.
Prediction: Lisicki in 2
Linda
McHale is playing well on the grass but the outcome of this match will be on the racquet of Lisicki. If Lisicki gets into a serving groove as she did in Birmingham it will be difficult for McHale to drag Lisicki into longer rallies. The hot sunny weather will only enhance the Lisicki serve. The German should take this in two sets.
Prediction: Lisicki in 2
Finn
McHale seems to have a penchant for beating top WTA players, with scalps including Azarenka, Kvitová, and Wozniacki. However, one of the cornerstones of her game – that high percentage topspin forehand – is much less effective on the grass. The lack of big weapons in her game also do not make her a natural grass courter – unlike her opponent Lisicki. The German could be tested for her consistency in this match, but with one of the biggest forehands and serves in the game at the moment, she will seize control after a loose first set. It has to be appreciated though that McHale is a fantastic mover.
Prediction: Lisicki in 3
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova vs Angelique Kerber
John
The 10th seeded Kerber is the hottest player on grass, having won 6 straight matches, including the title in Birmingham. In defeating fellow German Carina Witthoeft, she shut her promising countrywoman out. The talented but fragile at t
Linda
If her first round match is any indication of her mindset it looks like Kerber is on a mission. Her 6-0 6-0 routing of countrywoman Witthoeft was a continuation of the form that saw her win the warm up tournament in Birmingham. The only meeting between these two this year was a Fed Cup match that saw Kerber win 6-1 6-0. Kerber is in top form and this should be a straight forward straight sets win.
Prediction: Kerber in 2
Finn
Best match of Day Four here I think. Kerber beat Pavlyuchenkova emphatically 6-1 6-0 in their last meeting back in April this year, and I think that that may play on the mind of the Russian. More significantly, though, is just how well Kerber is playing on the grass. Just over a week ago she took the title at Birmingham and last year she had a run to the quarters of Wimbledon. Pavlyuchenkova can match if not exceed Kerber for power, but I think she lacks the mobility to retrieve Kerber’s low, skidding shots. Again, no upset here.
Prediction: Kerber in 2
Krystina Pliskova vs Svetlana Kuznetsova
John
The 26th seed looked solid in dismissing qualifier Laura Siegemund while Krystina Pliskova benefitted from her countrywoman Tereza Smitkova’ s collapse from 6-3 5-3 up. With little experience in Grand Slam play and a seasoned Grand Slam champion on the other side of the net, Karolina’s sister will most likely see her Wimbledon come to an end.
Prediction: Kuznetsova in 2
Linda
Pliskova is not looking comfortable on the grass and needed three sets in her first round match. Kuznetsova has been playing steady this year. This is a match where I think experience will pay off.
Prediction: Kuznetsova in 2
Finn
Kristyna Pliskova won the junior title here in 2011 but unlike her twin (11th seed Karolina Pliskova), has failed to translate her junior success into results on the professional tour. Indeed, she has only flirted with the top 100 briefly and now stands as the world #134. Kuznetsova is not immune to upsets though; she is even, in fact, vulnerable to these sorts of matches in the early stages of a Grand Slam. Kuznetsova looked competent enough in her first round match though and will again be a player suited to the higher bounces in the heat.
Prediction: Kuznetsova in 3
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