Day 5 of Wimbledon usually means all our women’s matches would be third round matches, but because of the rain this week we still have Round 2 matches as well. In fact, there are 18 women’s matches on Friday’s schedule. We’ve already predicted some of them, as we expected to see them on Day 4 (including Wimbledon Day 4 Women’s Predictions Including Aryna Sabalenka vs Varvara Gracheva and Ons Jabeur vs Zhuoxuan Bai). We have predictions for 13 more matches now, though, split between four articles. In addition to this article, our other articles feature Petra Kvitova vs Aliaksandra Sasnovich, Iga Swiatek vs Petra Martic, and Victoria Azarenka vs Daria Kasatkina. Predicting these matches are Jim Smith, Shane Black, and Yesh Ginsburg. Who do you think will advance?
Wimbledon Day 5 Women’s Predictions
Anna Blinkova vs Irina-Camelia Begu
Jim:
Irina-Camelia Begu is probably more comfortable on the clay than on a grass court, but her first-round win over the big serving Rebecca Marino was impressive. If she can maintain that level against Anna Blinkova, expect the 29th seed to book her place in the last 32.
Prediction: Begu in 3
Shane:
Anna Blinkova and Irina-Camelia Begu worked hard for their respective first-round, three-set victories. The win was Begu’s first grass-court victory of the season, and just her sixth since 2018. Blinkova is no grass-court maestro, but she does have a better history on the surface than her opponent. I see the Russian finding a way into Round 3.
Prediction: Blinkova in 3
Yesh:
Begu is a seasoned veteran who by now is at least somewhat comfortable on all surfaces. She’s a better player generally than Blinkova, is more consistent, and has more experience on the surface.
Prediction: Begu in 2
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Belinda Bencic vs Magda Linette
Jim:
Magda Linette brought Barbora Strycova’s fairy tale run to a crashing halt in the second round, battling past the Czech in three. That earns her a shot at Belinda Bencic and the chance to reach the second week at a Major for the second time this year. Don’t be surprised if she takes it.
Prediction: Linette in 3
Shane:
Belinda Bencic and Magda Linette are coming off hard-fought, three-set victories. Bencic has always been a strong grass player and is looking to reach Wimbledon’s fourth round for the third time. I expect this to be a very back-and-forth match, but I trust Bencic’s recent form to power her to the finish line.
Prediction: Bencic in 3
Yesh:
I am, perhaps, higher on Linette on grass than most. The surface just suits her powerful game so well. And, at the same time, I consistently underestimate Bencic on the surface. In my mind, her game doesn’t translate to the grass, even though her results consistently show it does. So do I learn from my mistakes or do I double down? I say double down.
Prediction: Linette in 2
Caroline Garcia vs Marie Bouzkova
Jim:
Caroline Garcia managed to survive a slow start against Leylah Fernandez to win the match in a third-set tiebreak. But the fifth seed has not looked particularly convincing so far at the All-England Club and her next opponent–Marie Bouzkova–thrives on the big occasion.
Prediction: Bouzkova in 3
Shane:
Caroline Garcia came back from a set down in Round 2 to defeat Leylah Fernandez. On the other hand, Marie Bouzkova has dropped just eight total games during her two Wimbledon matches. Bouzkova has not been sharp this year, but she does have two straight-set, grass-court victories over Garcia. I’ll take the Czech once again.
Prediction: Bouzkova in 3
Yesh:
Garcia keeps flirting with disaster then lifting her level to bail her out of trouble. That’s not particularly a recipe for success anywhere, especially at a Major, but I have to believe that Garcia will start to bring her best from the opening ball soon.
Prediction: Garcia in 2
Elina Svitolina vs Sofia Kenin
Jim:
This promises to be an entertaining baseline battle between two players who are a lot better than their rankings suggest. But which one will reach the fourth round? Sofia Kenin’s revival has been impressive, but it’s hard to look past the in-form Elina Svitolina. She’s been playing the better tennis and has a much better record on grass.
Prediction: Svitolina in 3
Shane:
Elina Svitolina and Sofia Kenin have had impressive victories to advance to Round 3 at Wimbledon. Kenin is the much better grass player and should be able to dictate the pace of this match. I do not see the Ukrainian possessing the tools to puncture the American from the ground.
Prediction: Kenin in 2
Yesh:
It’s like Svitolina flipped a switch right before the French Open, and she’s been approaching her top form ever since then. And let’s remember, Svitolina’s top form is World #3 and a Wimbledon semifinal. Kenin’s top form might be a tad better than that, but the American is much further off from her best currently.
Prediction: Svitolina in 2
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
