On Tuesday, Day 2 of the Wimbledon Championships, we will complete both the men’s and women’s first rounds. That means there are 32 women’s singles matches, and–as always–we here at LWOT will share our thoughts on every single one of them with you. We split the day’s 32 matches into eight articles. Our other seven articles feature Beatriz Haddad Maia vs Yulia Putintseva, Elena Rybakina vs Shelby Rogers, Aryna Sabalenka vs Panna Udvardy, Karolina Muchova vs Jule Niemeier, Ons Jabeur vs Magdalena Frech, Bianca Andreescu vs Anna Bondar, and Maria Sakkari vs Marta Kostyuk. Predicting this set of matches are Jack Edward, Jakub Bobro, and Jordan Reynolds. Who do you think will advance?
Wimbledon Day 2 Women’s Predictions
Ysaline Bonaventure vs Zhuoxuan Bai
Jack:
It’s early days in the career of Zhuoxuan Bai but she’s already notched a 77% match win-rate over the course of 122 matches. There’s something formidable about the world #191 who will be ready to battle against the heavy strikes of Ysaline Bonaventure.
Prediction: Bai in 3
Jakub:
One of the weaker first round matchups here, Bonaventure being the slight favorite for me with more experience under her belt.
Prediction: Bonaventure in 2
Jordan:
Bonaventure has just one Grand Slam match win to her name, at the US Open, while Bai is playing in her first Grand Slam. This is a tricky one to call. Bonaventure is higher ranked android experienced at Grand Slam level, I’ll give her the edge based on that.
Prediction: Bonaventure in 3
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Alize Cornet vs Nao Hibino
Jack:
Alize Cornet may not be in the greatest form but she didn’t defeat Iga Swiatek at last year’s Wimbledon by chance. The Frenchman has a fantastic game for grass and should find her feet against Nao Hibino, who will be left a little underpowered on the surface.
Prediction: Cornet in 2
Jakub:
Cornet has struggled this season but the potential second round against defending champion is just too delicious to resist; I have to pick the Frenchwoman here.
Prediction: Cornet in 2
Jordan:
The French veteran has twice reached the fourth round at Wimbledon and reached the semifinal at Nottingham a few weeks ago. Her Japanese opponent has yet to go past the second round of a Grand Slam. But Hibino plays an aggressive style that can be very dangerous when done well. I’m going for this match as one of the big shocks of the first round.
Prediction: Hibino in 3
Bernarda Pera vs Viktoriya Tomova
Jack:
This one could be quite close. Bernarda Pera is definitely more suited to a surface that affords her time but Viktoriya Tomova doesn’t quite have the ball-striking ability to take advantage. Pera could squeak this by virtue of having the more decorated CV.
Prediction: Pera in 3
Jakub:
Pera is one of the weaker seeds in the draw as she’s largely a clay courter but Tomova won’t hit through her, so the American’s consistency should win out here.
Prediction: Pera in 2
Jordan:
Pera is a seeded player at Wimbledon. But she has failed to win a match in five previous attempts at Wimbledon, and is most comfortable on clay. By contrast Tomova’s only precious Grand Slams match wins at Wimbledon. Despite the vast difference in ranking I am backing Pera to be another seeded player to lose in the first round.
Prediction: Tomova in 3
Petra Kvitova vs Jasmine Paolini
Jack:
Petra Kvitova is many a pundit’s pick for dark horse this year and rightly so. The notoriously powerful player is brimming with confidence after winning every set she played in Birmingham. She’s up against a player far more comfortable on clay in Jasmine Paolini. Watch out for the Czech this fortnight.
Prediction: Kvitova in 2
Jakub:
Kvitova has inexplicably struggled at Wimbledon in recent years but with a title in Berlin, this one just feels different. Paolini doesn’t really have ways to hurt the Czech here.
Prediction: Kvitova in 2
Jordan:
The grass court pedigree of two-time champion Kvitová is obvious but she hasn’t reached a Wimbledon quarterfinal since her last win in 2014. But she comes to Wimbledon off the back of winning in Berlin. Her Italian opponent is near her highest ever ranking of 44 but has never been past the first round of Wimbledon. Expect Kvitová to win despite not being at her best in her first match.
Prediction: Kvitova in 3
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
