We begin the third round on Day 5 of Wimbledon. On Friday, we will see eight women’s matches to determine who moves on to Round 4. As always, LWOT writers share their thoughts on the matches. We split the eight matches between this and a separate article. Predicting today’s matches are Jakub Bobro, Glenys Furness, and Jim Smith. Who do you think will win?
Wimbledon Day 5 Women’s Predictions
Angelique Kerber vs Elise Mertens
Jakub:
Kerber has been a strong competitor here, getting straight-set wins over Kristina Mladenovic and Magda Linette. Mertens has had to battle, going down a set to both Maria Camila Osorio Serrano (who retired in the third set) and Panna Udvardy. If the German keeps her form, Mertens has not looked like a player capable of stopping her here.
Prediction: Kerber in 2
Glenys:
An instersting match up. Both seeded players, yet only one of them has made the final. Kerber won the singles event in 2018. The German has also had fairly straight forward matches to reach this stage. Mertens on the other hand has never been beyond the fourth round. The Belgian has had to battle in each match to get to this stage, and they have all gone the distance. Kerber will take this.
Prediction: Kerber in 2
Jim:
Mertens was on the verge of an early exit at the hands of Panna Udvardy, but was saved by a combination of her own never-say-die attitude and the failing light. Kerber probably won’t be so forgiving, however. The German has an excellent record at Wimbledon and her grass-court nous should give her a decisive advantage here.
Prediction: Kerber in 2
Kaja Juvan vs Heather Watson
Jakub:
Juvan took out the most in-form grass player in Beatriz Haddad Maia, following it up with a win over Dalma Galfi. Watson will be a different challenge as she will have the crowd behind her, which might just decide this match.
Prediction: Watson in 3
Glenys:
Kaja Juvan impressed in the first round, defeating the 23rd seed Beatriz Haddad Maia in three sets. Although her second round match was a little easier the Slovenian, Juvan has never been beyond the third round. Heather Watson has had to play both of her first two matches over two days, due to late night finishes. Watson also is a Grand Slam champion, albeit in mixed doubles. The Brit will have the crowd behind her, and will also be on a show court. Watson has the experience of playing on the show courts, having had her first round match on court 1, and this match will be the same. The Brit famously held match points against Serena Williams in 2015 on centre before ultimately losing that third round match. This one should be easier for the Brit.
Prediction: Watson in 3
Jim:
Juvan is having a career-best season and the Slovenian will surely have high hopes of reaching the second week at a Major for the first time in her career after excellent wins over Beatriz Haddad Maia and Dalma Galfi. Will she? Watson has the quality to win this match and will have the crowd right behind her, but the Briton is not quite the force she once was – even on home turf.
Prediction: Juvan in 3
Alison Riske vs Marie Bouzkova
Jakub:
The match of the day on the women’s side for me. Riske-Amritraj continues to show why she has been a dangerous grass player over her career, most recently beating tricky qualifier Maja Chwalinska. Bouzkova pulled off a great upset over Danielle Collins and followed it up by dropping just three games against Ann Li. Can Bouzkova’s tireless defense beat out Riske’s offense? I believe it just might.
Prediction: Bouzkova in 3
Glenys:
Alison Riske is looking sharp at the moment. The American, although losing the first set in her second round match, dominated the remaining sets losing only one game. Her first round match was a straight set win. Riske is a former quarter finalist at Wimbledon. Marie Bouzkova took out the seventh seed in her first round in three sets, then blitzed the second round, losing only 3 games. The Czech will be playing her third American in a row at the Championship this year, however, Riske will be a step too far.
Prediction: Riske in 3
Jim:
Riske came into Wimbledon after a disappointing stretch of form, but the American has a good record in SW19 and has impressed so far this week. She did make a slow start against Maja Chwalinska, however, and will need to avoid that against Bouzkova. The Czech is playing some fine tennis and is good enough to really challenge Riske here. But expect Riske’s experience to ultimately tell in her favour.
Prediction: Riske in 3
Maria Sakkari vs Tatjana Maria
Jakub:
Sakkari got two solid straight-set wins over Zoe Hives and Viktoriya Tomova. The veteran Tatjana Maria is a tricky one to play on grass with her style of play as she showed in her upset over Sorana Cirstea in the second round. The German will bring a different challenge to Sakkari but the Greek’s baseline game should be solid enough to win here.
Prediction: Sakkari in 3
Glenys:
Maria Sakkari has eased through her first two rounds, hardly being troubled by her opponents. Although seeded fifth this year, the Greek has never gone beyond the third round here. Against German Tatjana Maria the Greek is likely to have little trouble. Although Maria defeated 26th seed Sorana Cîrstea last round, both of the German’s matches to date have been three set battles.
Prediction: Sakkari in 2
Jim:
Maria is in the relatively rare position of being, more or less, a grass-court specialist and she has looked at home on the lawns of the All-England Club so far in three-set wins over Astra Sharma and Sorana Cirstea. Sakkari, in contrast, has historically struggled at Wimbledon. But the Greek has looked sharp so far this year and is the better player of this pair. That should be reflected in the scoreline.
Prediction: Sakkari in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
