There are only eight women left with a chance to win the title at Wimbledon this year. A veritable exodus of the seeds means that non of the top 10 women are remaining. In some ways, this is beginning to look like Serena Williams’ title to lose. Is that true. Can any of her remaining opponents get the better of the 23-time Slam champion? It starts with the quarterfinals, and we at LWOT are here to predict all four matches for you. Predicting today are writers Lukas Weese, Brett Margolies, and Nurein Ahmed, along with editors Yesh Ginsburg and Steen Kirby.
Wimbledon Women’s Quarterfinals Predictions
Jelena Ostapenko vs Dominika Cibulkova
Lukas:
This is a battle between two ladies who both are known for their powerful groundstrokes. Cibulkova is coming off a straight set victory, where she has now converted 12 break point opportunities in her last two matches and won 10 of her last 12 sets. Ostapenko also won a straight set victory, winning 78% of her first serve points and acquiring 28 winners. Cibulkova and Ostapenko have met twice before, with the Slovak winning both of the matches. Both ladies could improve their serve numbers and reduce the number of errors they commit. It is going to be a close match but I like Cibulkova to advance. She is hitting her spots spectacularly and her return of serve has been phenomenal. Cibulkova advances to the quarterfinals.
Prediction: Cibulkova in 3
Steen:
With both players in good form this could go either way. The young Latvian player could win her second Grand Slam and has bounced back well from the nerves of falling early at Roland Garros.
Prediction: Ostapenko in 3
Nurein:
This is going to be a very interesting battle. Cibulkova is playing her best tennis in a long, long time. I remember she won in Eastboune a couple of years ago and this is the closest she has looked competitive on the grass, and she has had to do it the hard way against some quality opponents. Confidence must be sky high for the Slovak, and those tennis balls seem a tad too big for her eyes at the minute. Ostapenko has not put a foot wrong either, but her unforced errors count will be her own downfall here.
Prediction: Cibulkova in 2
Yesh:
Both of these players have looked really impressive this tournament. Ostapenko is more talented, but Cibulkova looks to be on an absolute mission here. This will be her toughest test yet, but I think she has enough to outduel Ostapenko on the grass.
Prediction: Cibulkova in 3
Brett:
Jelena Ostapenko talked about feeling less pressure after not defending her French Open title points from last year. You can tell she’s playing much better as of late because of it. Cibulkova’s H2H record against Ostapenko should be a cause of concern for the Latvian. I think Cibulkova’s run will continue.
Prediction: Cibulkova in 3
Daria Kasatkina vs Angelique Kerber
Lukas:
Angelique Kerber is trying to make a run at winning another Grand Slam title as he takes on Daria Kasatkina of Russia. En route to the quarterfinals, Kerber has only dropped one set this tournament. She has been dominant and clinical in all of her matches, looking like her former self when she was World No. 1. Kasatkina has been playing well but has had the advantage of not having to play the top seeds, who have bowed out early in the tournament. Kerber is way more experienced in this stage of a Grand Slam tournament compared to the 21-year-old Russian. I like her to breeze through this match to the semifinals.
Prediction: Kerber in 2
Steen:
Germans are having more success at Wimbledon than they did at the World Cup. Kasatkina is a rising star but Kerber is more accomplished and should prevail.
Prediction: Kerber in 3
Nurein:
I’ve always said, Daria Kasatkina is my favorite WTA player, and when she is on, she is unstoppable. She can slice, she can hit those jaw-dropping drop shots, and her ground strokes seem effortless. I watched a replay of her win over an in-form Barty; she came from 4-1 down in the first set and totally schooled the Australian. Kerber needs to be very careful here. Kasatkina is not one that entertains unrelenting retrievals and extending rallies. Very often she will go for the punch.
Prediction: Kasatkina in 3
Yesh:
Kerber finally looks to be playing at the level that dominated the world in 2016. Kasatkina struggled with nerves and her game in her Round of 16 match, and with only a day to recover I can’t see her being competitive here.
Prediction: Kerber in 2
Brett:
Daria Kasatkina has done a good job winning matches throughout the tournament without playing her best. She’s going to need to play her best to beat Kerber. Kerber’s just been too consistent as of late.
Prediction: Kerber in 2
Kiki Bertens vs Julia Goerges
Lukas:
Kiki Bertens is coming into this quarterfinal match after pulling off a dramatic upset over Karolina Pliskova. She won 79% of her first serve points, save eight of ten break point opportunities and converted 35 winners. Goerges has relied heavily on her serve to get her to this point in the tournament. Last match over Donna Vekic, she won in straight sets, winning 64 percent of her total service points. She also broke four times and acquired 30 winners. Both ladies are coming into this match with momentum. It is the third time they are meeting, with Bertens having won both previous matches. It will be close with some entertaining points but I like Bertens to keep her momentum going into the semifinals.
Prediction: Bertens in 3
Steen:
Georges should have too much power in this one. Bertens would be happy to have made it this far but she’s at a disadvantage. Prediction: Georges in 2
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Nurein:
This is probably the most difficult match to call. Both these two players seem comfortable to play on the clay, but they have made in roads and scored some impressive wins on the grass. Goerges lost their most recent meeting, in which she had to play a semifinal and then a final in between few hours on the same day in Charleston and she totally ran out of gas that day, but I can see her getting the better of the Dutchwoman in this one.
Prediction: Goerges in 2
Yesh:
Bertens leads the H2H in this matchup 2-0, but that shouldn’t matter too much here. What matters far more is that she has looked like a better player than Goerges so far this tournament.
Prediction: Bertens in 2
Brett:
I didn’t think Kiki Bertens would get past Pliskova. She followed her win over Venus up with an impressive straight set win. Goerges has done well getting to the quarterfinals at Wimbledon for the first time in her career, but I’d give the advantage to Bertens here.
Prediction: Bertens in 2
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Serena Williams vs Camila Giorgi
Lukas:
Serena Williams is in yet another quarterfinal of Wimbledon, this time taking on Camila Giorgi of Italy. At 36 years of age, Serena has still been able to maintain a high quality brand of tennis. She is trying to win her first Grand Slam tournament as a Mother. On the other side, Giorgi is one of the young up and coming players of the game. She uses her quick agility and speed to run after balls and can cover the court with ease. While it will be entertaining, I think Serena is playing at such a high level that she will take away Giorgi’s groundstrokes and strengths. I like Serena to advance to the Wimbledon Semifinals.
Prediction: Williams in 2
Steen:
Giorgi is a tricky player but given Serena has made it this far I don’t think she’ll trip up here. She has a genuine shot at winning her first post-pregnancy Slam this tournament.
Prediction: Serena in 2
Nurein:
I cannot see anything but a straight-sets win for Serena here; in fact, I am looking at names left in the draw and there is not anyone that strikes any panic to Williams. The draw could not have gone any better for her, and it is a matter of time before she clinches the Venus Rosewater Dish on Saturday. It is remarkable really given her time off the court.
Prediction: Williams in 2
Yesh:
Serena has been playing well this tournament, but she has also yet to be tested. She struggled a bit against Kristina Mladenovic, and had patches of poor play against Evgeniya Rodina. Giorgi will test her in ways that she hasn’t had to face since coming back from pregnancy. Don’t be shocked if this is a very tight match.
Prediction: Williams in 3
Brett:
I think this will be Serena’s toughest test yet. There isn’t much pressure on the Italian so she should be able to swing freely as usual. It’s just too hard to pick against Serena; the title is hers to lose.
Prediction: Williams in 2
Main Photo:
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