Grass season goes on with the first day of main draw action at the 2022 WTA Birmingham Classic. Plenty of former Wimbledon quarterfinalists are on the schedule, including Viktorija Golubic, Alja Tomljanovic, and Coco Vandeweghe. Who do you think will prevail? We also look at the rest of the day’s matches in a separate article.
WTA Birmingham Day 1 Predictions
Petra Martic vs Ajla Tomljanovic
Head-to-head: Martic 2-1
After a long period of struggling, Petra Martic found some form in Madrid and Rome, before suffering a disappointing first-round exit at Roland Garros. The Croat hasn’t played on grass this year yet, while Alja Tomljanovic made the quarterfinals in Nottingham. More match practice should help the Australian here, her game is also very well-suited to grass. Last year, it led her to the final eight stage at Wimbledon.
Prediction: Tomljanovic in 3
Viktorija Golubic vs Caroline Garcia
Head-to-head: Golubic 1-0
Both players lost to Alison Riske in Nottingham. Viktorija Golubic took a set off the American in the semifinals, while Caroline Garcia was fended off in two in the second round. Neither player has been in particularly strong form this year, but the Swiss seems to have picked up a lot more steam last week, winning two matches (and a third via retirement). Golubic made the quarterfinals at Wimbledon last year and her trademark one-hander can be a great weapon on this surface. She also dismantled Garcia quite easily at Linz in 2021.
Prediction: Golubic in 2
Coco Vandeweghe vs Donna Vekic
Head-to-head: Vandeweghe 2-1
In terms of grass court pedigree, few women on the tour have one better than Coco Vandeweghe. The American won both her WTA titles at ‘s-Hertogenbosch and made the quarterfinals at Wimbledon twice (2015, 2017). How much of that form can she still bring now? That is the question but the early days of her 2022 grass campaign have been encouraging (5-1). With Donna Vekic also trying to recover her best level, Vandeweghe might have a chance to serve her way to another brilliant win.
Prediction: Vandeweghe in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
