It’s another Slam, and we’re back with more predictions. Joining us to pick matches on the first day of Wimbledon 2016 is myself (Yesh Ginsburg), senior editor Steen Kirby, and LWOS contributor Jeff Crady.
Panelists’ Predictions 2016 Wimbledon Women’s Day 1 Matches
Naomi Broady vs Elina Svitolina
Steen:
Britain’s Broady has been struggling as of late; Svitolina isn’t a world beater on grass in her own right but she’s the far more accomplished player and thus she should prevail.
Prediction: Svitolina in 2
Jeff:
Naomi Broady has a chance to post a major upset and bring Brit Fever to the grounds at Wimbledon on Monday. The tall, hard serving 26-year-old plays the 17th seeded Ukranian Elina Svitolina. The latter, coached by the legendary Justine Henin, has had spurts of success this season after struggling to the finish line in 2015, but has had some head scratching losses this season as well. Broady started the year off very well, smashing both her serve and forehand for winners. If she can impose herself early on Svitolina, she can win the match.
Prediction: Broady in an upset in 3
Yesh:
Svitolina is a very solid player but can struggle on grass. Broady, on the other hand, plays well on grass and can really get the Wimbledon crowd behind her. Still, I don’t quite think she can get through Svitolina with the Ukrainian’s current form.
Venus Williams vs Donna Vekic
Steen:
The 19-year-old Vekic has lost four straight matches on grass. Venus isn’t the player she used to be, but she’s one of the legends of this surface, and I doubt she’ll have any trouble here.
Prediction: Venus Williams in 2
Jeff:
Venus Williams enters her most successful Slam after a successful French Open that saw her make her deepest run on the clay in Paris in 6 years. American fans of the future hall-of-famer are hoping this trend continues at Wimbledon. She plays the talented, yet inconsistent, young Croat in Donna Vekic. Vekic will use her serve and forehand to push Venus, but after a tight first set, Williams takes the match.
Prediction: Venus Williams in 2
Yesh:
Venus is at her best in a long while recently, and Wimbledon is her best Slam. There really is no telling how far the American can go here. She’s not falling in the first round.
Prediction: Venus Williams in 2
Lucie Safarova vs Bethanie Mattek-Sands
Steen:
This should be a close contest. The veteran Mattek-Sands has a great shot at an upset although Safarova is a better player. Both are solid enough on this surface but haven’t been playing well as of late. Look for BMS to lose a heartbreaking match.
Prediction: Safarova in 3
Jeff:
Lucie Safarova and Bethanie Mattek-Sands find themselves in the unenviable position of playing each other in this opening round matchup. The two have made a fantastic and successful doubles team, winning two Slams in 2015. Safarova has struggled to recover from illness and injury, but has found a bit of the old form that carried her into the French Open final in 2015. Mattek-Sands is a serve and volleyer who plays with the same bold and agressive manner in which she dresses. Mattek-Sands’ aggression pays off in a mild upset of her doubles partner in a tough 3 setter.
Prediction: Mattek-Sands in 3
Yesh:
This should be the best match of Round 1. Two players who are familiar with each other and would both love and hate to beat each other will go at it for well over two hours on the pristine grass of Day 1. I can’t wait.
Prediction: Safarova in 3
Angelique Kerber vs Laura Robson
Steen:
Britain’s Robson inspires home fans and is a great story, it’s a shame she has to face a great grass court player like Kerber in round 1. The German should power her way through to the next round.
Prediction: Kerber in 2
Jeff:
The lovable, affable, great Brit hope continues her drawn out comeback tour in the first round against another top player making her own form of a comeback at Wimbledon. Robson has the power to hit through the athletic Kerber, but she hasn’t been able to find her best form in the months after trying to return from wrist surgery, and other injuries. The German Aussie Open champion says she is serving with “no pain” heading into Wimbledon, which may mean bad news for her opponents. Kerber gets the win in straight sets.
Prediction: Kerber in 2
Yesh:
I have much more faith in Robson in front of a Wimbledon crowd than my peers, apparently. Oh, it won’t draw a win out of the young Brit. But she will grab a set off of Kerber and give the crowd something to go nuts about.
Prediction: Kerber in 3
Camila Giorgi vs Garbine Muguruza
Steen:
Both players were good on grass last year, and poor this year for what little practice they got in. Giorgi is prone to spring upsets, but Muguruza was in great form in Paris and that should continue at least for a round in London. Prediction: Muguruza in 2
Jeff:
The French Open champ, and last year’s Wimbledon runner-up, faces a tricky first round opponent in the feast or famine Camila Giorgi of France. Giorgi, famous on tour for never taking anything off her massive flat groundstrokes or serve, is capable of hitting opponents off the court, much like Muguruza, when her timing and mood are on, However, unlike her opponent, she doesn’t have the movement sometimes needed or the guile to play smarter points when necessary. An upset is not unthinkable as Muguruza lost her only grass court lead-in match, but the French Open champ prevails in straight sets.
Prediction: Muguruza in 2
Yesh:
Garbine Muguruza was not supposed to be good on grass, but she blasted her way to the final here last year. She is on top of the world right now after winning her maiden Slam three short weeks ago. She’s going to go far here.
Prediction: Muguruza in 2
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