All four women’s quarterfinals are set at Wimbledon. Manic Monday might be no more, but the latter rounds of the tournament are still full of intrigue. Can anyone beat Simona Halep? Is Ons Jabeur ready to win a Major? As always, our writers share their thoughts on the quarterfinal matches. Predicting these matches are Jakub Bobro, Jack Edward, and Jim Smith. Who do you think will win?
Wimbledon Women’s Quarterfinal Predictions
Ons Jabeur vs Marie Bouzkova
Jakub:
Jabeur ripped through the first three rounds dropping just 13 games but faced a tougher opponent in her last match against Elise Mertens. The Belgian pushed her all the way, especially in the first set which the Tunisian won in a 13-11 tiebreak. To see Jabeur come up with a way to still win that match in straight sets was mightily impressive.
Roadrunner Bouzkova has been impressive in every single match, starting with the upset of Danielle Collins and finishing with the dismantling of Caroline Garcia. Jabeur will obviously provide a different ball that the Czech has not yet seen before at this tournament but trust and believe she will chase it down every single time. Despite that, I see the third seed as the favorite as her variety might make Bouzkova struggle to get rhythm.
Prediction: Jabeur in 2
Jack:
The worst is behind Ons Jabeur. She survived four set points in her first set against Elise Mertens, keeping her level at a ferociously high level to come through a gruelling straight sets match. Marie Bouzkova is a decent player but Jabeur has so many options compared to her previous opponents – I’m struggling to envision a reality in which the in-form player fails to seize the opportunity of a lifetime to march into her first Wimbledon final.
Prediction: Jabeur in 2
Jim:
This is probably a tougher match for Jabeur than looks on paper. Bouzkova tends to be quite a streaky player, but when she is playing her best tennis – as she has been so far at Wimbledon – the Czech is a tough opponent. Her court coverage is up with their best in the women’s game and she is not without big match experience. But she has far less than Jabeur and she has not come up against a player of the Tunisian’s quality yet at Wimbledon. Expect Jabeur to prove too strong.
Prediction: Jabeur in 3
Tatjana Maria vs Jule Niemeier
Jakub:
Who had this one in their brackets? Though it may be surprising, I expect this obscure German derby to deliver some strong tennis as both players have played some incredible stuff during the Championships. Niemeier’s level to take out Anett Kontaveit was incredible to behold as was Maria’s play against Jelena Ostapenko. It is a tough one to call but I will lean towards Niemeier as Maria’s run-intensive match against the Latvian likely took a lot out of her physically.
Prediction: Niemeier in 3
Jack:
For those following Jule Niemeier’s career closely, this run may not have come as a surprise. The German hits the ball bigger than the vast majority of the tour – it’s just been a matter of putting it all together.
If there was someone that could dismantle her game, Tatjana Maria might be the woman for the job. She’s already unstuck Sakkari and Ostapenko with her wicked slices which sit horrifically low on this surface. I’m not underestimating Maria but if Niemeier’s arrival is truly here and now, I think she has the game to come through.
Prediction: Niemeier in 3
Jim:
A massive opportunity for both. Who handles the accompanying pressure will likely play a big role in who comes out on top. Maria has the advantage in terms of experience and has probably had to beat better players to reach this stage. In spite of that, expect it to be Niemeier to come out on top. She has a higher level and in a match with stakes this high, her youth may actually be an advantage.
Prediction: Niemeier in 3
Elena Rybakina vs Ajla Tomljanovic
Jakub:
Rybakina has not been talked about much but the Kazakh has been incredibly solid match-in, match-out, taking out strong opposition such as Bianca Andreescu, Petra Martic, or Coco Vandeweghe without dropping a single set. Tomljanovic has now made back-to-back quarterfinals at Wimbledon, coming back from a set down against Barbora Krejcikova and Alize Cornet in her last two matches. This is a tight match but with Rybakina being more rested headed into it, she has to be the favorite for me over the Australian.
Prediction: Rybakina in 3
Jack:
It’s no coincidence Elena Rybakina is through to the quarterfinals. She’s always had the serve and forehand combo to excel on any surface but has always had the potential to really step into overdrive on a grass-court. Ajla Tomljanovic is a big hitter with similar advantages to the Kazakh, but if both stepped onto the court near 100%, I’d expect Rybakina to have slightly more firepower.
Prediction: Rybakina in 2
Jim:
Rybakina is probably overdue a really big run at a Major and, if Wimbledon did not seem the most likely venue for that to happen, it is also not exactly impossible to understand how the Kazakh has found success on these courts. Tomljanovic has also played very well to reach this stage, repeating her 2021 result, but she could go no further last year and this should be the end of the road for her again in 2022.
Prediction: Rybakina in 3
Amanda Anisimova vs Simona Halep
Jakub:
Anisimova has seen some adversity on this run, coming back from a set down against Lauren Davis and Coco Gauff, but the young American has looked better in every match, most recently ending Harmony Tan’s fairy tale run. Halep, yet to drop a set, has been an absolute machine at this year’s Wimbledon. The only time she looked a little bit in danger was in the first set against Kirsten Flipkens, but the former No. 1 took out fourth seed Paula Badosa 6-1 6-2 in her previous match, showing just how good her form is. This match-up would suit Anisimova better on a different surface. With how good Halep has looked, the Romanian has to be considered a contender.
Prediction: Halep in 2
Jack:
This match dynamic depends on whether or not Anisimova shows up. I expected her return to be rushed a bit by her opponent’s serves on this surface but she seems to be timing the ball nicely–Halep hardly has the biggest serve in the world either so if the American is on, things could get difficult for the two-time Grand Slam champion. From what I’ve seen, I’ve no reason to believe Anisimova won’t be in full flow. Even for someone of Halep’s caliber, she has shown in recent times big hitters can get the better of her.
Prediction: Anisimova in 3
Jim:
Jabeur is probably the favourite, but perhaps she should not be. Halep is, after all, the only player left in the draw who has actually won Wimbledon. She also demolished Paula Badosa in straight sets to book her place in the quarterfinals. Anisimova has also had an excellent tournament, but if Halep maintains the level she showed against Badosa, expect her to have too much for the American as well.
Prediction: Halep in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
