On Tuesday, Day 2 of the Wimbledon Championships, we will complete both the men’s and women’s first rounds. That means there are 32 women’s singles matches, and–as always–we here at LWOT will share our thoughts on every single one of them with you. We split the day’s 32 matches into eight articles. Our other seven articles feature Elena Rybakina vs Shelby Rogers, Petra Kvitova vs Jasmine Paolini, Aryna Sabalenka vs Panna Udvardy, Karolina Muchova vs Jule Niemeier, Ons Jabeur vs Magdalena Frech, Bianca Andreescu vs Anna Bondar, and Maria Sakkari vs Marta Kostyuk. Predicting this set of matches are Jack Edward, Jakub Bobro, and Jordan Reynolds. Who do you think will advance?
Wimbledon Day 2 Women’s Predictions
Tamara Korpatsch vs Carol Zhao
Jack:
Both Tamara Korpatsch and Carol Zhao did well in their qualifying runs but Korpatsch showed more promise, even if she’s in the main draw as a lucky loser. The German has the power to boss this match even if it turns into a bit of a rollercoaster.
Prediction: Korpatsch in 3
Jakub:
Carol Zhao qualifying was a pretty big surprise, overcoming Coco Vandeweghe in the final round. Korpatsch comes in as a lucky loser, falling to young talent Mirra Andreeva. This match could go either way but I think the Canadian will keep the fairytale run going here.
Prediction: Zhao in 3
Jordan:
This is a difficult one to call. Zhao is making her first appearance at a Grand Slam. Korpatsch is looking for her first win at a Grand Slam in her fifth appearance. I will go with Zhao to ride on the momentum of her first Grand Slam appearance to play her consistent brand of tennis more effectively.
Prediction: Zhao in 3
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Yanina Wickmayer vs Anna Blinkova
Jack:
Confidence is key going into the first round of Wimbledon and Yanina Wickmayer has an abundance of it. Whilst Anna Blinkova is clearly an accomplished ball striker, I could see Wickmayer blowing Blinkova off the court before the Russian can work out what to do. The women’s three-set format should benefit Wickmayer here.
Prediction: Wickmayer in 2
Jakub:
Blinkova is among the more dangerous unseeded players in the draw but faces an experienced qualifier in Wickmayer. The Belgian will test Blinkova early, but she should come through.
Prediction: Blinkova in 3
Jordan:
The experienced Wickmayer is a player with much grass court pedigree having reached the fourth round of Wimbledon. She is currently outside the Top 100, although did win an ITF event on grass a few weeks ago. Blinkova enters Wimbledon at her highest ever ranking of 39. Wickmayer has the potential to make it difficult, but Blinkova will have too much.
Prediction: Blinkova in 2
Celine Naef vs Anastasia Potapova
Jack:
Celine Naef has reached a career-high of #165 in the world at 18 years old but it’s unclear where she peaks. There may have been players in the world that she could have overpowered in the first round but Anastasia Potapova feels like a step too far at this stage of her career.
Prediction: Potapova in 2
Jakub:
I have seen some predict Potapova to go quite deep but Naef will not be an easy out. The teenager beat Venus Williams in Hertogenbosch and came through qualifying here, having a decent chance to pull off the upset here.
Prediction: Naef in 3
Jordan:
Potapova was just a set away from the final of the Birmingham Classic a few weeks ago, and enters Wimbledon at her highest ever seeding of #22. But Naef will be no pushover despite being outside the Top 100, reaching the quarterfinals of Hertogenbosch recently and qualifying to reach her first grand slam. Potapova to win but I think it could be tough.
Prediction: Potapova in 3
Beatriz Haddad Maia vs Yulia Putintseva
Jack:
Beatriz Haddad Maia may not have matched her performance from last year on grass but she should still be considered a threat on these slick courts. Yulia Putintseva can also grind from the back but the Brazilian has the added advantage of an effective lefty sliding serve on this surface to tip the percentages in her favor.
Prediction: Haddad Maia in 3
Jakub:
An exciting first round here with Haddad Maia being a strong grass player and reaching the Roland Garros semifinals while Putintseva is a notoriously uncomfortable player to face.
Prediction: Haddad Maia in 3
Jordan:
Haddad Maia created headlines for her clay court grit in her run to the semifinals at Roland Garros. But she has ability on grass, having won at both Nottingham and Birmingham last year. Putintseva has reached the second round five times at Wimbledon and can be fun to watch. But I wouldn’t go against the 13th seed.
Prediction: Haddad Maia in 3
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
