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, Ashleigh Barty vs Carla Suarez Navarro, 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
Daria Kasatkina vs Patricia Maria Tig
Jim:
Daria Kasatkina looks to be in good position to go deep at Wimbledon. The Russian has been playing some solid tennis of late, reaching the final in Nottingham and the last eight in Eastbourne. If she can maintain that level, she should have too much for Patricia Maria Tig.
Prediction: Kasatkina in 2
Tracey:
Daria Kasatkina has been in remarkable form. The Russian reached the final in Birmingham, making her mark against some very accomplished players. With what can be a deficit, Kasatkina is finding her serve effective on the grass. This should be a relatively easy opener. A potential second round clash with Jelena Ostapenko is the danger.
Prediction: Kasatkina in 2
Damian:
Tig would stand a chance on clay but definitely not here. Especially with the usually mercurial Kasatkina really catching fire in the last month or so.
Prediction: Kasatkina in 2
Anastasija Sevastova vs Zarina Diyas
Jim:
Daria Kasatkina looks to be in good position to go deep at Wimbledon. The Russian has been playing some solid tennis of late, reaching the final in Nottingham and the last eight in Eastbourne. If she can maintain that level, she should have too much for Patricia Maria Tig.
Prediction: Kasatkina in 2
Tracey:
This is perhaps Sevastova’s best opportunity for a win at Wimbledon. Looking ahead, the Latvian will struggle to make it past the second round. Sevastova has more experience and a better pedigree on grass than Diyas. Yet, from time to time, Diyas can surprise. Probably not this time, and Sevastova should come through with relative ease.
Prediction: Sevastova in 2
Damian:
Tough call as Diyas used to enjoy a lot of success on grass on the ITF Tour. Sevastova’s quality wins over Coco Gauff and Marta Kostyuk at Eastbourne give her the edge for me though.
Prediction: Sevastova in 3
Andrea Petkovic vs Jasmine Paolini
Jim:
Andrea Petkovic is not the force she once was, but the German is still capable of digging out some good results and she will surely be targeting this as a match she should be winning. Jasmine Paolini has proven herself an accomplished clay courter, but it says much for her Wimbledon ambitions that she prepared for the Championships by playing a clay-court tournament in Croatia.
Prediction: Petkovic in 3
Tracey:
Jasmine Paolini hasn’t played a WTA level grass tournament since 2019. And that will prove a disadvantage against Andrea Petkovic. While Petkovic’s recent form has lacked, she has enough grass court skill to fight through the Paolini threat.
Prediction: Petkovic in 3
Damian:
Petkovic is just a shadow of her former self this season, but even that shadow might be enough here. Paolini lost her previous five matches on this surface and I don’t see how her game translates well to the grass.
Prediction: Petkovic in 2
Serena Williams vs Aliaksandra Sasnovich
Jim:
Andrea Petkovic is not the force she once was, but the German is still capable of digging out some good results and she will surely be targeting this as a match she should be winning. Jasmine Paolini has proven herself an accomplished clay courter, but it says much for her Wimbledon ambitions that she prepared for the Championships by playing a clay-court tournament in Croatia.
Prediction: Petkovic in 3
Tracey:
You can expect Serena to start slow, shaking off the rust. Without any tournament play since the French Open, the American superstar will need time to find her form. Sasnovich may well take the first set. Yet, the Sasnovich serve is the Belarusian’s pain point–one which Serena will punish.
Prediction: Williams in 3
Damian:
It’s always a question mark with Serena but her performances at the Slams this year have been quite great. Wimbledon is the best shot she has left at getting to 24, and I don’t think she’s going to let it go easily.
Prediction: Williams in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
