There are only two rounds left to this year’s Wimbledon. We have one new (in a Slam setting) semifinal coming up and one match that we’ve seen far too many times–almost always with the same result. Making predictions today will be LWOS writers John Lupo, Finn Ranson, and Niall Clarke, who will be joined by myself, tennis Department Head Yesh Ginsburg.
Wimbledon 2015 Panelist Predictions Women’s Semifinals
Serena Williams vs. Maria Sharapova
Finn
Sharapova’s horrid record against Serena appears to be a monotony the Russian cannot break; I think this match will be no different. Williams has the vastly superior serve of the two – serving a prolific 55 aces and only 11 double faults throughout the tournament, whereas Sharapova has served 15 aces at the expense of 38 double faults. And of course, such a gulf in serving ability is especially relevant on a grass court. Sharapova is also stubborn in staying by her general game plan, regardless of her opponent. This approach has been invariably punished by Serena, who appears to enjoy the pace of Sharapova’s flat groundstrokes and her lack of net play. Serena has been careless in periods of some of her recent matches, but seems to have the confidence to recover any deficit; against an opponent who hasn’t beaten her since 2004, that will be an enormous advantage.
Prediction: Williams in 2
Niall
The last time Serena lost to Sharapova was here 11 years ago. Back then Sharapova was a teenager who shocked the world to claim her first Grand Slam. Williams is still on course to complete the Serena slam and had to battle hard to beat Azarenka in the last round. I just cannot see Sharapova beating Serena, as there seems to be such a huge mental block at the moment. Also grass is Serena’s best surface and Sharapova’s worst. It is difficult to see anything but a victory for the World #1.
Prediction: Serena in 2
John
The 20-time Grand Slam champion overcame yet another deficit, this time rallying past Victoria Azarenka after dropping the first set. Sharapova struggled past Coco Vandeweghe in 3 sets even though she served for the match in the 2nd set. In this matchup, it’s all about belief if the Russian thinks she can really beat Williams. It’s been 11 years since she did it, most notably at this event in 2004 in the final and again at the year-end championships. You know the American will be laser-focused and be ready for Sharapova’s best. I think this may be the best opportunity the 2004 champion has had yet to knock off the 5-time Wimbledon titlist in a long time. She’ll take a set, but Williams will progress to the final.
Prediction: Williams in 3
Yesh
I’m going to go out on a limb here, and it’s not a strong one. We have every reason to think that Sharapova will treat this match like every other match against Serena, which will invariably end in a loss. Her serve is still not great but she has done a good job of playing behind it this tournament. More importantly, though, Serena is in the middle of an awful trend of not playing well until she gets into the second set of a match. She hasn’t yet played anyone, not even Victoria Azarenka, who has not wilted when Serena turned things up. Sharapova won’t wilt, and this will be Serena’s first challenge from an elite opponent playing their best since before this year’s French Open. Heather Watson didn’t quite have it in her to get over the hump. I think Sharapova will.
Prediction: Sharapova in 3
Agnieszka Radwanska vs. Garbine Muguruza
Yesh
This is very tough to predict. On the one hand, Radwanska just beat a player very similar to Muguruza. On the other hand, Muguruza is playing with a power that is very reminiscent of one Serena Williams at times. What this comes down to, though, is the fact that Radwanska will have enough slices and tricks in her bag to keep Muguruza from finding any rhythm.
Prediction: Radwanska in 3
Niall
What a tournament for Muguruza. She has not only made her first Grand Slam semifinal, she has done it on her weakest surface. The Spaniard also had to come through a very tough draw to do it. She has been mentally stronger than ever before and has played with this excellent controlled aggression. Quite frankly, this Muguruza is scary. Radwanska has been her usual self, using her variety to out-fox her opponents. A former finalist here, the Pole is well suited to the grass and has really picked up her form since getting on the surface. If Muguruza continues the level she has shown so far, it is hard to see Radwanska having much of a chance as she will easily be overpowered. But the occasion could get to the Spaniard and as a result she could be an error machine. However, I feel Muguruza is on a mission here and I do not see Radwanska stopping her.
Prediction: Muguruza in 3
Finn
Muguruza has the bigger weapons over Radwanska. Yet the Pole has a lot more grass court experience and has already competed in a Wimbledon semifinal. Radwanska also overcame Madison Keys in the previous round – one of the most powerful players from the back on the WTA tour – so will feel perfectly well-equipped to deal with the superior power of her opposition. The backhand of Muguruza has proved to be one of her finest shots these Championships and it could be very fruitful in this contest against Radwanska, whose own backhand is consistent but will present opportunities for Muguruza to manipulate the point from. Their head to head record stands at two wins each, however both of Muguruza’s have come this year. These were on hard courts, though; grass is a surface where Radwanska’s change of pace and slice is much more effective.
Prediction: Radwanska in 3
John
The Spaniard advanced to her first career Grand Slam semifinal on the back of a powerful, controlled, composed victory over Swiss Timea Bacsinszky. Radwanska marches into her 3rd Wimbledon semifinal in four years with a 3-set win over American star Madison Keys. In a similar type of matchup as last round, Radwanska will have to deal with the power of her opponent, something she did successfully. Unlike Keys, Muguruza knows how to harness her power and use it to blow some of her opponents off the court and also unlike Keys, she has defeated the Pole before, twice this year–in Sydney and Dubai. While Radwanska has experience on her side, she also the pressure of being the favorite. I think the 20th seed delivers another performance of containment and uses her big serve and powerful groundstrokes to reach her first Grand Slam final.
Prediction: Muguruza in 2
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