It’s the best day of the tennis season. Manic Monday at Wimbledon has all 16 Round of 16 matches (eight Men’s and eight Women’s). The crew here at Last Word On Tennis is here to predict every single one of them four you. It can be a little much to read (and write) predictions for all eight women’s matches at once, so we split this up into two articles. This article contains all four matches in the bottom half of the draw. Predicting the matches are writers Lukas Weese, Brett Margolies, Vithun Illankovan, and Manuel Traquete, along with editor Yesh Ginsburg.
(Top Half)
Wimbledon Women’s Predictions Manic Monday
Camila Giorgi vs Ekaterina Makarova
Lukas:
Giorgi and Makarova, both unseeded, now have a chance to advance to the quarterfinals at Wimbledon. Makarova is coming off a three set win over Lucie Safarova, where she won 67% of her total service points and converted 34 winners to 14 unforced errors. Giorgi is coming into this match surviving a three set battle of her own. But in her last two matches, she has 74 unforced errors. This number is too high when you are facing a quality player like Makarova. Both ladies are known to rack up the errors but I think Makarova’s overall game and mixture of shots will allow her to prevail in a tight three set match.
Prediction: Makarova in 3
Manuel:
It’ll be the first meeting between the pair, and it’s expected to be a close one. Makarova has been slightly more impressive so far in this tournament.
Prediction: Makarova in 3
Vithun:
They are both inconsistent hard-hitters of the ball but Giorgi has never reached the quarterfinals of a Slam, whereas Makarova will be going for her 7th Grand Slam quarterfinal. Therefore, I will be going for the person who has performed better at the Grand Slams previously, particularly as she has already beaten Caroline Wozniacki this tournament.
Prediction: Makarova in 2
Brett:
The contrast in styles between the two should make this a fun watch. As usual, a lot will depend on how Giorgi is playing. I think Makarova will make it tough on her and will move on to the quarterfinals.
Prediction: Makarova in 3
Yesh:
Fans have been waiting forever for Giorgi to make a huge run like she is right now. She’ll get a very tough but winnable matchup against Makarova. This could definitely go either way.
Prediction: Giorgi in 3
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Evgeniya Rodina vs Serena Williams
Lukas:
Serena Williams is back in the fourth round of Wimbledon, taking on Russian Evgeniya Rodina. Rodina is coming off the biggest win of her career, defeating Madison Keys in three sets. She converted 57% of her total service points and only acquired 11 unforced errors. She needs to improve her serve percentage if she is going to beat Serena. Williams converted 64% of her total service points and had only seven unforced errors in her last match. Serena is looking to advance to her 11th Grand Slam quarterfinal in 12 appearances. She’s won 17 matches on the grass court up to this point and I see Serena dominating her way into the quarterfinals.
Prediction: Williams in 2
Manuel:
Even at her age and current ranking, Williams’s shadow always looms large over the entire WTA circuit. If she’s playing, she’s the one to beat no matter what.
Prediction: Williams in 2
Vithun:
If Serena does not win this tournament, this Grand Slam will be very quickly forgotten. Thankfully, what was already an easy draw at the start of the tournament continues to become even easier so expect another win for Serena.
Prediction: Williams in 2
Brett:
Credit to Evgeniya Rodina for getting to the round of 16 from qualifying, but Serena Williams is the real winner here avoiding a dangerous Madison Keys. Serena shouldn’t have any issue here. I think she’ll play her best match so far of the tournament.
Prediction: Williams in 2
Yesh:
Serena got a little lucky here to face Evgeniya Rodina instead of someone like Madison Keys. Rodina might not be fully healthy, and after coming through qualifying certainly isn’t up to beating Serena. As long as she’s healthy, Serena Williams will move on to the quarterfinals.
Prediction: Williams in 2
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Donna Vekic vs Julia Goerges
Lukas:
Julia Goerges is the #13 seed looking to advance to the final eight as she takes on Donna Vekic of Croatia. Goerges had to grind out a three set victory over Strycova. She converted 63% of her first serve points and got 50 winners in the match. Vekic in her last match got 27 winners to just 12 unforced errors. Goerges has never won a fourth round match at a Grand Slam before. I think her fighting spirit and powerful ground strokes will prevail to book her ticket into the quarterfinals.
Prediction: Goerges in 2
Manuel:
Vekic has been on fire so far in this tournament and might have the form and momentum needed to create yet another upset and continue her dream run.
Prediction: Vekic in 2
Vithun:
For such a talented player, Georges still has not reached the quarter-final of a Grand Slam, which suggests that the Slams are not for her. She also prefers to play on clay, whereas her opponent Vekic has a great game for the grass and has already beaten a top player in Stephens this tournament. Therefore, I expect another seed to fall.
Prediction: Vekic in 3
Brett:
When the draw came out, it always looked like whoever won between Sloane Stephens and Donna Vekic would make a run. Vekic has undoubtedly made the most of her run getting to the second week almost out of nowhere. Both are playing well, but I think Vekic’s run will continue.
Prediction: Vekic in 3
Yesh:
I don’t know where this form came from for Donna Vekic, but as long as it continues it will be hard to pick a player like Goerges–not a natural grass-courter–to beat her.
Prediction: Vekic in 2
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Karolina Pliskova vs Kiki Bertens
Lukas:
Karolina Pliskova, the highest seed left in the tournament, is taking on Kiki Bertens in the Round of 16. With Bertens’s straight set victory over Venus Williams, she has a combined 72 winners in her last three matches. Pliskova had to survive in three sets to defeat Mihaela Buzarnescu. Even though she didn’t play her best, the Czech player showed tremendous grit and fight, winning five of her last six grass court matches. This match will be close as Bertens has a great arsenal of ground strokes. But I think Pliskova’s serve and left handed strokes will prove to prevail and advance to the quarterfinals.
Prediction: Pliskova in 2
Manuel:
Pliskova is the favorite, but Bertens will be extra motivated after her amazing win over Venus Williams in the previous round.
Prediction: Bertens in 3
Vithun:
Bertens really isn’t a dangerous player outside clay and while I am surprised to see her in the 4th Round of Wimbledon, I didn’t really rate any of the players that she beat (Yes, that’s right I don’t rate a victory over Venus Williams). Pliskova is the most reliable player in the WTA Tour right now and she is due a deep run on at Wimbledon so I expect a comfortable victory, particularly from the confidence she must have gained from her comeback victory in the previous round.
Prediction: Pliskova in 2
Brett:
Pliskova is always a threat on grass as we’ve seen so far this tournament. She pretty much dictates how the match will go, and so far it’s gone well. Bertens has done well upsetting Venus Williams along the way, but I think Pliskova moves on.
Prediction: Pliskova in 2
Yesh:
Pliskova shouldn’t even be in the tournament right now. It took a major collapse from Mihaela Buzarnescu for Pliskova to become the only Top 10 seed in the women’s draw to reach Manic Monday. She won’t be so lucky against Kiki Bertens.
Prediction: Bertens in 3
Main Photo:
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