We are going to be treated to 32 great women’s matches on Day 1 of Wimbledon on Monday. We will see players from World #2 Coco Gauff to qualifiers ranked outside the Top 100. As always, we here at LastWordOnTennis will share our thoughts on all of the matches with you. We split the 32 matches between eight articles. Our other articles feature Coco Gauff vs Caroline Dolehide, Victoria Azarenka vs Sloane Stephens, Naomi Osaka vs Diane Parry, Mirra Andreeva vs Brenda Fruhvirtova, Aryna Sabalenka vs Emina Bektas, Bianca Andreescu vs Jaqueline Cristian, and Paula Badosa vs Karolina Muchova. Predicting these matches are Jordan Reynolds, Steen Kirby, and Yesh Ginsburg. Who do you think will win?
Wimbledon Day 1 Predictions
Marta Kostyuk vs Rebecca Sramkova
Jordan:
Kostyuk has had an excellent season overall, but her form has dipped in the last two months. She could be made to work hard by Sramkova, who will put a lot of balls into court. Overall, though, the Ukrainian possesses superior athleticism and firepower, and should come through as a result.
Prediction: Kostyuk in 2
Steen:
Kostyuk is nearly at a career high ranking and has 20 wins this year; Sramkova dominated the ITF Tour last season and broke into the Top 100 recently but isn’t making the same impact on the WTA Tour. Sramkova is a hard-working player but Kostyuk is the responsible choice.
Prediction: Kostyuk in 2
Yesh:
Sramkova is having a decent year, but Kostyuk is having a great one. And the Ukrainian is better in general, and better on grass. This won’t be particularly close.
Prediction: Kostyuk in 2
Peyton Stearns vs Daria Saville
Jordan:
Saville has had some good results on grass throughout her career, but she has not been at very best for a while now. However, the Australian does have a chance against Stearns, who has played very little tennis on grass. The American possesses more firepower, but I am going with the experience of Saville in this matchup.
Prediction: Saville in 3
Steen:
Stearns has been good for two years running, Saville is right around .500 on the season and hasn’t been great on grass in her career. This feels like a match where Stearns has more upside.
Prediction: Stearns in 2
Yesh:
Saville has more experience on grass, but Stearns is learning and improving so quickly. The American is going to be a top player someday, and that day is not too far off.
Prediction: Stearns in 3
Yafan Wang vs Anna Karolina Schmiedlova
Jordan:
This is a tough match to call. Neither player has really proven themselves on grass in the past. Schmiedlova’s consistency is given a very narrow edge, but this could really go either way.
Prediction: Schmiedlova in 3
Steen:
Schmiedlova has been pedestrian in recent years and has a poor grass court record. Wang isn’t playing particularly great either but on this surface she has a slim edge.
Prediction: Wang in 3
Yesh:
Schmiedlova is a better player who has huge potential but always seems just shy of getting to the top of the game. I don’t expect her to have much trouble in this one, though.
Prediction: Schmiedlova in 2
Emma Navarro vs Qiang Wang
Jordan:
Navarro had a solid run to the semifinal in Bad Homburg heading into Wimbledon. The 22-year-old is quickly improving on all surfaces, meaning Wang has her work cut out here. It is tough to see how she will be able to hit through Navarro’s incredibly solid game.
Prediction: Navarro in 2
Steen:
Qiang Wang left the WTA Tour and got married; she has returned to pro tennis as a player who isn’t in the headlines much right now. Navarro comes off a grass court semi and is an incredible 36-16 on the season. The American is putting together great results while Wang is an unknown.
Prediction: Navarro in 2
Yesh:
Emma Navarro has taken the Tour by storm, but only because way too many fans (and players and coaches) don’t pay enough attention to college tennis. Anyone who saw Navarro in the NCAAs knew this was coming. She’s going to the best college tennis player ever, and she’s getting there fast.
Prediction: Navarro in 2
Main Photo Credit: Ray Acevedo-USA TODAY Sports
