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 Coco Gauff vs Elena-Gabriela Ruse, Serena Williams vs Harmony Tan, Garbine Muguruza vs Greet Minnen, Iga Swiatek vs Jana Fett, 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
Viktorija Golubic vs Andrea Petkovic
Fraser:
Two veterans of the WTA Tour face off here. Petkovic has a history of performing well in big tournaments and may well have been a multiple Grand Slam winner if injuries hadn’t derailed her career on so many occasions. Golubic is also and incredible talent when in full flow and has a wonderful backhand in her arsenal. This one will go three sets and Petkovic likely edges it based on the fact she is in better form coming in to the tournament.
Prediction: Petkovic in 3
Jakub:
This year has been a struggle for Golubic with a 13-16 record so do not expect the Swiss to make the quarterfinals like she did last year. The 29-year-old had a puzzling grass season, starting with a run to Nottinhgam semifinals, her best result of the year, before taking a third-set tiebreak loss in the first round of Birmingham and finishing by winning only three games against Marta Kostyuk in Eastbourne. Petkovic is no grass expert but she did beat Garbine Muguruza in Berlin. Golubic won both of their previous meetings, including in Doha this season. I expect the Swiss to win again.
Prediction: Golubic in 2
Jim:
This has the makings of a very entertaining first-round match. Golubic is a shot-maker of rare quality, whilst Petkovic, if not the force she once was, remains a wily opponent. But the conditions probably favour Golubic, the more expansive of the two, so expect the Swiss to be the player to advance.
Prediction: Golubic in 3
Elena Rybakina vs Coco Vandeweghe
Jakub:
Rybakina did not impress on grass this season compared to past years. Previously, the Kazakh made semifinals at Den Bosch and Eastbourne as well as the fourth round at Wimbledon. This year, Rybakina won just one match on grass over No. 215 Jamie Loeb. Vandeweghe enters as a lucky loser after losing to Maja Chwalinska in qualifying. The American is very strong on grass though, a two-time quarterfinalist at Wimbledon with two Den Bosch titles to boot. On current form, I see Vandeweghe pulling off the upset here.
Prediction: Vandeweghe in 3
Jim:
Rybakina hasn’t had much success on the grass this season, so will Vandeweghe, once a grass-court specialist, be able to pounce? It’s not impossible by any means, but it doesn’t look very likely. Vandeweghe was not able to negotiate the qualifying draw, which doesn’t instill much confidence in her chances against the 17th seed.
Prediction: Rybakina in 2
Fraser:
Vandeweghe makes the main draw as a lucky loser and her reward is a very tough first round match. Rybakina leads the WTA in aces and has immense power of both wings. Both of those make her a real threat on grass and she should pick up a win easily enough here.
Prediction: Rybakina in 2
Madison Brengle vs Lauren Davis
Fraser:
Brengle is undoubtedly having the better year and has been in fine form in 2022. However, Lauren Davis is a tricky customer and very rarely goes down without a fight. This is a great opportunity for both these American stars to score a valuable second round appearance at a Grand Slam and I think Brengle will snatch that opportunity as she has on so many occasions in the last twelve months.
Prediction: Brengle in 3
Jakub:
This will be the sixth meeting between the two with Brengle having a narrow 3-2 lead, her wins including their last meeting at Saint-Malo this and a double bagel in their first meeting back in 2018. Both players have reached the third-round here a couple of times before but Brengle is coming in on a three-match losing streak. I see Davis as a very slight favorite here.
Prediction: Davis in 3
Jim:
Expect a close contest here. There should be few secrets between this pair and they look relatively evenly matched on paper. But the conditions might just give Davis a crucial advantage. She looks the better equipped for grass-court tennis and that should be the difference.
Prediction: Davis in 3
Jessica Pegula vs Donna Vekic
Fraser:
Pegula is the sensible pick here. The American has been superb on all surfaces over the last 12 months and is definitely among the elite in the women’s game at the moment. However, Vekic was once a part of that club as well and seems to be finding some good tennis. I expect this goes the distance and Pegula edges it but don’t rule out a Vekic upset.
Predictions: Pegula in 3
Jakub:
Pegula’s rise over the past couple of years has been incredible to witness but we are yet to see the American have success on grass. The 28-year-old did okay on grass last season but her decision to not play any lead-up events might come back to haunt her, especially with this draw. Vekic is a tough player to face on grass, earning wins over the likes of Dayana Yastremska or Caty McNally. It’s pretty much a coin flip to me but I will go with the Croat to pull of the upset here.
Prediction: Vekic in 2
Jim:
Jessica Pegula’s transformation into one of the WTA Tour’s most consistent performers has been remarkable, even if it has gone rather under the radar. Vekic, in contrast, cannot seem to find any sort of consistency despite her considerable talent, with injury problems not helping her in that regard. She has looked sharp on the grass, however, and this should be a battle, but Pegula has been winning most of her battles lately.
Prediction: Pegula in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
