The third round of Wimbledon begins on Day 5. At the end of the day, eight women will have booked their Manic Monday spots. But who will those eight women be? Our writers share their thoughts on all the matches. We predict four matches in this article and four matches in a separate article. Predicting today’s matches are Andrew Watson, Damian Kust, and Jim Smith.
Wimbledon Day 5 Women’s Predictions
Aryna Sabalenka vs Maria Camila Osorio Serrano
Andrew:
The Colombian teenager was a big outsider when defeating Alexandrova in the second round but this would be an even greater shock. Sabalenka though didn’t inspire with confidence when scraping past Katie Boulter. I think there will be more scrapes here but with a similar end result. Sabalenka doesn’t often reach a second week at a Grand Slam, but she has to start somewhere.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 3
Damian:
The Colombian’s breakout season just keeps getting more incredible, especially with how lacking her grass-court pedigree was before she performed so well in the qualifying at Wimbledon. This would be absolutely huge but even though Sabalenka struggled to beat Boulter, I don’t think Osorio Serrano can give her as much of a challenge as the young Brit did.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 2
Jim:
Sabalenka survived an almighty scare in the second round to see off the challenge of Katie Boulter. Will that allow the Belarusian to swing more freely? She’s clearly feeling the pressure of her lofty seeding and will be tested again here against the qualifier Osorio Serrano, with this something for a free-hit for the Colombian. But Sabalenka has the weaponry to hit her way out of trouble. It worked for her against Boulter and should see her safely through once again.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 3
Liudmilla Samsonova vs Sloane Stephens
Andrew:
The Russian’s excellent run continued with an impressive win over Pegula. Stephens though has scored two excellent wins already and is starting to purr. I am backing the American to outclass Samsonova and prove that she is a contender here.
Prediction: Stephens in 2
Damian:
The past couple of weeks have been the best in Samsonova’s career as she was able to turn her brilliant Berlin title run to a Wimbledon wild card. The powerful Russian isn’t looking anything close to stopping yet but she’ll be facing a very tough challenger here. Stephens is looking really good again but that was also the case at the French Open. Then as she faced a truly in-form opponent, she got absolutely dismantled. It won’t be this easy here, but I’d expect Samsonova to win.
Prediction: Samsonova in 3
Jim:
Stephens has been a revelation so far at Wimbledon. There is no doubt that the American has talent, but for a long time it looked like she had forgotten how to harness it. This is anything but a straightforward assignment however. Samsonova is in the form of her life and if she maintains the level she has shown over the past few weeks, expect her to have just about too much for Stephens.
Prediction: Samsonova in 3
Viktorija Golubic vs Madison Brengle
Andrew:
Certainly one of the lower key third round matches but both players will fancy their chances. The career series is tied at 1-1 but Golubic was the victor on grass last week at Eastbourne. A dominant final set will give the Swiss athlete confidence and makes her my favorite for this clash.
Prediction: Golubic in 2
Damian:
The Swiss has been among the most impressive performers of the season and after a marathon win over Kudermetova, she got some much-needed rest with a comfortable routing of Collins. Grass isn’t even her best surface, but she’s playing so well at the moment that it shouldn’t really matter. Plus, she was my dark horse pick for the tournament so if she makes the fourth round I’ll have something to boast about.
Prediction: Golubic in 2
Jim:
After an excellent year away from the biggest stages, Golubic might just be poised for a breakthrough on the biggest stage of all. The experienced Swiss certainly looks like she has the game to do some damage in SW19 and after brushing aside Danielle Collins in the second round, she should have the beating of Brengle too.
Prediction: Golubic in 3
Garbine Muguruza vs Ons Jabeur
Andrew:
A real contrast of styles and a match I’m really looking forward to. The Spaniard looks like she is on a mission right now and when she is fully fit there are very few in the world who can handle that. Jabeur will certainly ask some testing questions but I back Muguruza to have the answers.
Predictions: Muguruza in 2
Damian:
What a blockbuster this is. The former champion hasn’t been challenged at all yet, while Jabeur only had to fend off Venus Williams for a set before the American ran out of steam. The Tunisian had the better warm-up and this should be a brilliant match between two players whose level often varies between games and sets. Jabeur has the tools to disrupt rhythm and perhaps she’s finally at a place when she can win matches like that on a regular basis.
Prediction: Jabeur in 3
Jim:
This should be some match. Both women have made impressive starts to their campaigns at the All England Club and both look very much at home on the grass. There was also almost nothing to split them in their only previous meeting, which went to a third-set tiebreak. But Muguruza won that match and it is the Spaniard who has the higher ceiling and the pedigree. Expect her to have the edge once again.
Prediction: Muguruza in 3
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