Day 2 at Wimbledon will see 32 women’s matches. We’ll wrap up the first round (weather-permitting) and find out who’s moving on to Round 2. As always, we at LWOT will share our thoughts on all of the matches for you. We split up the 32 matches between eight articles. The other articles feature Iga Swiatek vs Jana Fett, Serena Williams vs Harmony Tan, Garbine Muguruza vs Greet Minnen, Jessica Pegula vs Donna Vekic, Paula Badoa vs Louisa Chirico, Petra Kvitova vs Jasmine Paolini, and Simona Halep vs Karolina Muchova. Predicting today’s articles are Fraser Learmonth, Jakub Bobro, and Jim Smith.
Wimbledon Day 2 Women’s Predictions
Barbora Krejcikova vs Maryna Zanevska
Fraser:
Krejcikova has played just two matches since February on account of injuries. The former French Opinion champion is short of matches on a surfaces she doesn’t particularly enjoy. Zanevska has played good tennis this year and I like her chances at an upset win in this one.
Prediction: Zanevska in 3
Jakub:
Elbow injury put a stop to Krejcikova’s great form over the past two seasons. The Czech was out from Dubai to the French Open, losing both of her matches since the comeback. On grass, Krejcikova lost to Marta Kostyuk in Eastbourne last week. Zanevska is coming in on a four-match losing streak and has not won a match on grass since 2018, so Krejcikova gets a nice draw here to start.
Prediction: Krejcikova in 2
Jim:
Krejcikova is another star name who arrives at Wimbledon in the midst of a miserable season. The Czech has struggled with injuries, as well as the pressures of being a Grand Slam champion, and after being dumped out in the first round in Paris, it is hard to see her going deep at Wimbledon. But Zanevska is in no kind of form either and, of the two, there is no doubt that Krejcikova is the better player.
Prediction: Krejcikova in 2
Shelby Rogers vs Petra Martic
Fraser:
Martic has shown signs of her old self in recent months. The Croat also has a great grass court game and is a tough out when she’s in full flow. Rogers is always a dangerous opponent, but I don’t think she can handle Martic here. This should be a great match to watch.
Prediction: Martic in 3
Jakub:
Rogers started her grass season with a nice run in Den Bosch, beating Elena Rybakina to reach the semifinals. Martic is best-known for her clay results and lost first round to Aleksandra Krunic and Jodie Burrage in her grass lead-ups, but has reached the fourth round here twice before. This should be an interesting match of decent quality and I will lean towards Rogers here.
Prediction: Rogers in 3
Jim:
If this pair can play their best tennis, this should be some match. Especially for the first round. Unfortunately, there is little to suggest that either will. But Rogers has at least been winning some matches on the grass and made the semifinals in Den Bosch. Martic’s record on the surface this year is a fairly dismal 0-2.
Prediction: Rogers in 3
Danka Kovinic vs Sonay Kartal
Fraser:
Kovinic has done amazing things for herself and Montenegrin tennis over the last 12 months. She will certainly be keen to do so again at Wimbledon and has a real opportunity against a young and inexperienced player at this level in Kartal. Back Kovinic to move on in this one.
Prediction: Kovinic in 2
Jakub:
Kovinic is, frankly, a bad grass player, 3-10 being her career record. All three of her wins came in Wimbledon qualifying. This is a brilliant opportunity for 20-year-old Kartal, a very deserving wildcard. The Brit only got her first ranking points eight months ago and is already inside the Top 250. This season, Kartal holds a 30-5 record, including four ITF titles and a semifinal at the ITF 100 in Ilkley. I expect the young Brit to win in her Wimbledon debut and properly introduce herself to the tennis world.
Prediction: Kartal in 2
Jim:
This is a big opportunity for Kartal. The Briton is the underdog, but she will have the crowd right behind her and Kovinic, with the greatest of due respect, hardly presents an insurmountable obstacle. The Montenegrin was well-beaten in her only grass-court outing of the season so far and though she is likely to be more competitive here, expect Kartal to be the player to reach the second round.
Prediction: Kartal in 3
Coco Gauff vs Elena-Gabriela Ruse
Fraser:
Gauff made her breakthrough onto the WTA tour at Wimbledon and hasn’t looked back since. The teen is knocking hard on the door of the top ten and should make that exclusive club sooner rather than later. She is the better player overall and on grass here and should ease past Ruse and into Round 2.
Prediction: Ruse in 2
Jakub:
Gauff became the youngest slam finalist since Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon 2004 last month at Roland Garros. The American is also a strong grass player, reaching the second week in both of her previous appearances. Gauff also looked good in Berlin, beating Karolina Pliskova to reach the semifinals, so I would be surprised if Ruse presents much of a challenge. The Romanian has managed to qualify for Wimbledon twice in the past but has never gone past the first round here.
Prediction: Gauff in 2
Jim:
Gauff’s French Open dream ended in a heart-breaking loss and the young American surely will not have fully recovered from that disappointment. But she had recovered sufficiently to make the semifinals in Berlin which suggests that she has not been unduly effected. If she can maintain the level she showed in the German capital, she should have too much for Ruse.
Prediction: Gauff in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
