Day 2 of Wimbledon is one of the two busiest days in tennis. 64 women will compete in 32 matches to move on to the second round. We here at LWOT will be predicting all of them for you, split between eight articles. In addition to this article, the other seven feature Barbora Krejcikova vs Clara Tauson, Serena Williams vs Aliaksandra Sasnovich, Victoria Azarenka vs Kateryna Kozlova, Angelique Kerber vs Nina Stojanovic, Coco Gauff vs Francesca Jones, Jelena Ostapenko vs Leylah Annie Fernandez, and Bianca Andreescu vs Alize Cornet. Predicting these matches today are Tracey Essex, Damian Kust, and Jim Smith.
Wimbledon Day 2 Women’s Predictions
Nao Hibino vs Bernarda Pera
Jim:
It has not been a grass-court season to remember so far for Nao Hibino, who has lost all three matches she has played in comprehensive fashion. Bernarda Pera has not been in particularly good form herself, but she has at least won a couple of matches. Expect her to get the better of the Japanese.
Prediction: Pera in 2
Tracey:
Pera has been playing far too well to find any difficulty getting through the first round. Hibino has chalked up so many first-round exits, and I think another one is in store for the Japanese at Wimbledon.
Prediction: Pera in 2
Damian:
Pera is going under the radar but is actually enjoying a very good season. The same can’t be said about Hibino, who on top of that dropped her last eleven matches on the grass.
Prediction: Pera in 2
Karolina Muchova vs Shuai Zhang
Jim:
Karolina Muchova will surely be targeting a deep run at Wimbledon this year. The Czech’s all-court game is well-suited to the grass, as she showed by reaching the quarterfinals in 2019, and she has looked increasingly comfortably mixing it with the best in the game. Zhang Shuai is a fine player on her day, but she is not in the same class as Muchova.
Prediction: Muchova in 2
Tracey:
Zhang’s 2021 season has been pretty much a bust. Just when she started to turn it around, a leg injury forced her to retire in Birmingham. Karolina Muchova has played a single grass tournament in the lead up to Wimbledon. This is a match of two players both facing different challenges and neither at the top of their game. Yet the fighting spirit should push it to a decider with Muchova coming out on top.
Prediction: Muchova in 3
Damian:
Muchova is known for over-performing at the Slams and another good run from her might be incoming. Zhang is capable of good tennis on the grass though and it could have been an upset alert if the Chinese was in better form.
Prediction: Muchova in 3
Emma Raducanu vs Vitalia Diatchenko
Jim:
This is a huge opportunity for Emma Raducanu. The Briton has been in good form in recent weeks, reaching the third round at an ITF-event in Nottingham. But Vitalia Diatchenko did look sharp in coming through the qualifying, with the Russian winning all three of her matches in straight sets. If she can maintain that level, she should have just about too much for Diatchenko.
Prediction: Diatchenko in 3
Tracey:
This match is a great opportunity for two players who are now mainstays of the ITF circuit–both for very different reasons. Emma Raducanu is an 18-year-old upstart who will certainly feel the nerves in this big moment. Veteran Vitalia Diatchenko was once ranked World #71 and reached her main draw berth through qualifiers. Diatchenko should reach the second round, but not without a strong challenge from the Brit.
Prediction: Diatchenko in 3
Damian:
The 18-year-old looked alright in the warm-ups and there are players in the draw that she could do damage to. Probably not Diatchenko, though, as the Russian qualified in absolutely superb style.
Prediction: Diatchenko in 2
Ashleigh Barty vs Carla Suarez Navarro
Jim:
Ashleigh Barty’s French Open campaign may have come to a hugely disappointing end, but if the Australian has bounced back from her hip injury, she surely must be one of the favourites at Wimbledon. Carla Suarez Navarro will have plenty of good will, but the Spaniard was never much of a grass-courter even at the peak of her powers. This should be comfortable for Barty.
Prediction: Barty in 2
Tracey:
It’s a question mark in my mind as to how fit Barty is after her recent withdrawal. She’s obviously a top tier player, World #1, and skilled on grass. Even if her health is back to 100%, she’s had no match play on this surface. It’s probably not enough of a deficiency to give Suarez Navarro the opening she needs. But, the Spaniard’s farewell season will make her a determined adversary. Barty should squeak through and find her footing for later rounds.
Prediction: Barty in 3
Damian:
Suarez Navarro’s return is a feel-good story to conquer them all, but if Barty recovered from her French Open injury, this should be a mismatch. The Australian’s serve and slice can be deadly on this surface.
Prediction: Barty in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
