Here at LWOS we decided to give everyone a special treat for the best day in tennis. Our panelists offer you their prediction and analysis for ever single Manic Monday match. Offering their insights today are LWOS writers John Lupo and Niall Clarke, who are joined by Pete Ziebron of tennisacumen.com (for predictions for the Manic Monday men’s matches click here).
Manic Monday Mega Picks
Venus Williams vs Serena Williams
Niall
The main event of Round 4 sees the Williams sisters square off yet again on Centre Court. Serena has had her problems, especially with Heather Watson where she came so close to losing to the Brit. Venus has not dropped a set on her way to the second week. Right now Serena is clearly the better player, but in these situations anything can happen. I think we will get treated to a three setter, but Venus will be unable to prevent the Serena Slam.
Prediction: Serena in 3
Pete
“She’s in better form than I am.” This is what Serena Williams had to say about big sister Venus following her narrow and fortunate escape over Heather Watson on Friday. OK Serena, I will certainly take your word for the assessment of your game as well as Venus’ form at this time at The Championships. Venus Williams, a 5-time Wimbledon, Champion has indeed been playing well last week through three rounds. Meanwhile, Serena appeared to be feeling the pressure of attempting to march toward her third consecutive major of 2015 and fourth overall. Per Serena, Venus is in better form. Good enough for me.
Prediction: Venus in 2
John
For the 26th time, the legendary sisters meet and based on their play this fortnight, the elder Williams looks to be in better form. Always a presence at net (the one thing she does better than Serena), Venus will look to assert herself and force Serena to come up with tough passing shots. Serena won’t be able to get away with serving lapses as she did in the previous round vs Heather Watson and will look to attack Venus’ 2nd serve as often as possible. In what could perhaps be their final meeting, I like Venus to have one last moment of glory on her favorite court.
Prediction: Venus in 3
Victoria Azarenka vs Belina Bencic
Niall
One of the more interesting Round 4 matches sees Bencic face Azarenka for a quarterfinal place against one of the Williams sisters. Both possess great backhands and very good movement. Bencic is in excellent form in this grass season after winning Eastbourne in the build up to Wimbledon. Azarenka has more experience and Bencic’s injury from the last round could be a factor. Therefore I will back the Belarusian to come through.
Prediction: Azarenka in 3
John
The Belarusian has flown under the radar, quietly working her way through the draw without dropping a set en route to the Round of 16. By contrast, Bencic has gone 3 sets with former semifinalist Tsvetana Pironkova and Anna-Lena Friedsam while also facing a 5-1 deficit in the 1st set of her last match vs Bethanie Mattek-Sands before recovering to win in 2. The young Swiss superstar is also carrying a slight knee injury that may or may not affect her play. Bencic will win many majors in the same vein as her mentor Martina Hingis did and her time will come soon, but Azarenka is playing too well for the 18 year old right now.
Prediction: Azarenka in 2
Pete
Belinda Bencic arrives into the second week of Wimbledon riding a 9-match winning streak. Fortunate to get through Tsvetana Pironkova in the opening round, Bencic has continued to struggle in the next two rounds but each time found a way to steady her game in time to win and advance. Victoria Azarenka passed a large test last round, taking out Kiki Mladenovic in straight sets. Still, despite not dropping a set in the opening three rounds of play, Azarenka is still not quite back to the player she was when winning majors. Bencic is growing in confidence with each win and her solid belief wills her to this victory as she edges Azarenka in this epic 4th round battle.
Prediction: Bencic in 3
Maria Sharapova vs Zarina Diyas
Pete
Through three rounds, Maria Sharapova has dropped just 15 games. Her match on Friday against Begu was the only 3rd round contest in the top half that featured two seeded players. Zarina Diyas has recorded impressive wins over Flavia Pennetta in the opening round and Andrea Petkovic last round. Diyas matched her 4th round appearance from a year ago by getting this far. Sharapova, a former Champion, has not gone past the 4th round since she reached the final in 2011. Despite the fact that seeds have been ousted in bunches this year at Wimbledon, Maria Sharapova, the #4 seed, takes care of business efficiently.
Prediction: Sharapova in 2
Niall
Fair play to Zarina Diyas, she has defended her round four points. The Kazakh does not have the biggest of games but she is consistent off the ground and moves very well. Sharapova is another big name that has cruised through, and she will be happy to see Diyas on the other side of the net. I do not see the Kazakh troubling the Russian at all.
Prediction: Sharapova in 2
John
The 2004 champion has been steady and solid throughout the first week, a slight vulnerability of hers here in recent years. In facing Diyas, she sees a player who has no great weapons, but is steady from the baseline. These two have met one previous time at this year’s Australian Open with Sharapova coming out on top in routine fashion. I expect something similar here.
Prediction: Sharapova in 2
Coco Vandeweghe vs Lucie Safarova
John
In what could be the best 4th Round match on Manic Monday, the American looks for her 3rd straight upset after taking out #11 seed Karolina Pliskova in Round 2 and #22 seed Samantha Stosur in Round 3, dropping just 2 games to the Australian. Safarova has dropped the first set in two of her previous three matches and Alison Riske served for the match in the first round. After escaping that, the French Open finalist has looked solid, bar the 1st set of her last match vs Sloane Stephens. In what should be a high-octane affair with plenty of power and lots of good serving, I like the American to pull off yet another upset.
Prediction: Vandweghe in 3
Pete
Twice in the first 3 rounds, Lucie Safarova has dropped the opening set. In the first round, Safarova staved off elimination, breaking Alison Riske when she served for the match and then rolled to victory. On Friday, Safarova, a semifinalist at Wimbledon last year, eventually steadied her game in the second set against another American, Sloane Stephens, and again cruised to a comfortable win in the 3rd set. On Monday, Safarova will face yet another American, Coco Vandeweghe, who boldly proclaimed that she wants to be the number one player in the world. Vandeweghe, now working with new coach Craig Kardon, has rolled through the draw to date, knocking out Schmiedlova, Karolina Pliskova, and Sam Stosur, each in straight sets. Against Safarova, Vandeweghe will find a much more accomplished grass court player compared to her previous opponents.
Prediction: Safarova in 3
Niall
Vandeweghe is having a great tournament, reaching the second week for the first time. With her big serve and powerful ground strokes, The American is well suited to the grass. Then again, so is her opponent Safarova. The Czech was a semifinalist last year, losing to eventual champion Petra Kvitova. It will be a powerful contest but I think the experience edge that Safarova has will shine through.
Prediction: Safarova in 3
Caroline Wozniacki vs Garbine Muguruza
Niall
With Kvitova out, Wozniacki and Muguruza will both be looking at a potential place in next Saturday’s final. The ever consistent Wozniacki has had no major trouble as of yet, but her toughest test is yet to come. Muguruza showed a great display of mental fortitude to defeat Kerber in the third round in one of the matches of the tournament so far. The heat has meant the courts are dried up and as a result are slower and higher bouncing, which suits Muguruza. The Spaniard’s display in the previous round was her best ever on a grass court, and that will give her big confidence heading in to this match.
Prediction: Muguruza in 3
Pete
Caroline Woznaicki seemed genuinely relieved to get through her 2nd round match in straight sets after having to win the second set in a tiebreaker. She was able to exhale and quickly corrected course on Saturday as the Dane dropped just 4 games to Camila Giorgi, who won a grass court title in Den Bosch last month. Garbine Muguruza saved 9 set points (including 4 in the tiebreaker) in the first set of her 3rd round match against Angelique Kerber and was able to win in three as she regained her form in the final set. Expect Muguruza to ride the momentum she is enjoying from such an impressive effort against Kerber, whom some had going very deep in the draw this year. Muguruza continues to play well in majors in 2015 and halts the run of Wozniacki.
Prediction: Muguruza in 3
John
The Dane played by far her best match of the tournament in routing Camila Giorgi, dropping just 4 games to 31st seed, whom she was 1-2 lifetime against previously. She faces the 20th seeded Spaniard, who is in the second week of Wimbledon for the first time after gutting out a win vs #10 seed Angelique Kerber in the previous round, ending the German’s 7-Match winning streak on grass. Wozniacki will be steady and Muguruza will try to hit her off the court, which I think she will do successfully in a close victory, sending her to her first major quarterfinal outside of the French Open.
Prediction: Muguruza in 3
Timea Bacsinszky vs Monica Niculescu
Pete
What a difference a year makes! Last year, Timea Bacsinszky needed to qualify for the Wimbledon main draw (l. to Sharapova in 2nd round). This year, Bacsinszky is seeded 23rd and on Saturday,defeated former Wimbledon Sabine Lisicki, dropping just 5 games in the process. Monica Niculescu was certainly not the Romanian most expected to see playing at The Championships following Middle Sunday, as she, and not Simona Halep, is into the 4th round. Including three wins at The Championships, Niculescu is 9-3 on grass this year, including a semifinal win in Nottingham over former Wimbledon finalist Aga Radwanska. Bacsinszky, who was one set away from reaching the Roland Garros final last month, stays the course.
Prediction: Bacsinszky in 2
John
The Swiss has been playing magnificent tennis this fortnight and was nearly flawless against 2013 finalist Sabine Lisicki, dropping just five games en route to the 4th Round. Niculescu is looking for her first career major quarterfinal and will attempt to throw off Bacsinszky with her various array of drop shots, slices, and junkballs. It may take a bit for the French Open semifinalist to adapt to the Romanian’s unusual style, but she is simply playing too well to lose at this point.
Prediction: Bacsinszky in 2
Niall
Bacsinszky sent Lisicki packing and is playing some excellent tennis. The Swiss is looking ominous on serve as her fairy tale comeback continues. Niculescu’s use of variety and spin can be very hard to deal with, especially on grass where her slices stay even lower. However, I do not see Timea having issues getting to grips with the unique game of her opponent.
Prediction: Bacsinszky in 3
Olga Govortsova vs Madison Keys
John
n what appears to be the biggest mismatch of the Round of 16, the American has a clear path to her first Grand Slam final, but must avoid a letdown against the qualifier from Belarus. Govortsova upset Alizé Cornet, the last player to defeat Serena Williams in a major, in the 2nd Round on her way to this Round of 16 matchup. She is feisty with some good-looking groundstrokes, but Keys is too powerful and will do enough to avoid the upset.
Prediction: Keys in 2
Niall
One of the surprises of the tournament is the unlikely run of Olga Govortsova. The Belarusian now faces her toughest opponent in Madison Keys who has been touted as a potential champion of this tournament in the future. I doubt Govortsova has enough to beat Keys unless the American is way off her game.
Prediction: Keys in 2
Pete
Madison Keys has continued her ascent up the WTA rankings in 2015. Earlier this year, her march to the Australian Open semifinals created excitement and certainly raised the already lofty expectations for the 20 year-old American. Last year on grass, Keys reached the Eastbourne final and then had the misfortune of having to retire in her 3rd round match at Wimbledon while up a set. Olga Govortsova impressed at Nottingham this year, dropping only 11 games in 3 rounds of qualifying and the 1st round before losing in 3 tough sets to eventual finalist Monica Niculescu. Having to also qualify at Wimbledon, Govortsova enters the 4th round on a 6-match winning streak at The All England Club, including a 2nd round win over Alize Cornet. Despite all of the successful match play under her belt at The Championships, Govortsova runs into an inspired and determined Madison Keys.
Prediction: Keys in 2
Agnieszka Radwanska vs Jelena Jankovic
John
The 2012 finalist has quietly moved into the 4th Round without much fanfare, although she trailed Australian Casey Dellacqua 4-0 in the 2nd set of the last round before recovering for a straight sets win. Jankovic turned back the clock for a vintage performance in upsetting defending champion Petra Kvitova, rallying from a set and break down. In a matchup of similar styles, I like the Serb to progress in a close up-and-down match with plenty of twists and turns despite her 2-5 lifetime record vs the Pole.
Prediction: Jankovic in 3
Pete
The grass court season could not have arrived at a better time for former Wimbledon finalist Agniezska Radwanska. Following a run to the Eastbourne finals two weeks ago, Radwanska has dropped just 12 games in reaching the 4th round at Wimbledon. Jelena Jankovic shocked defending champion Petra Kvitova on Saturday. This will be Jankovic’s 5th time in the Round of 16 but just her first time getting this far since 2010, as she entered the tournament with just one win in her last six matches at Wimbledon. Meanwhile, Radwanska is the only remaining player in the bottom half of the draw that has even reached the semifinals of this event. Radwanska’s momentum continues as she capitalizes on her good fortune of not having to play Kvitova.
Prediction: Radwanska in 2
Niall
Radwanska has seemingly re-found her form on the grass after a shocking start to the season. The Pole has cruised through her opening three matches without dropping a set. Jankovic upset Kvitova and will be full of confidence after claiming that scalp. Unfortunately for the Serb, I see Radwanska being too consistent with too much variety.
Prediction: Radwanska in 2
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