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, Emma Navarro vs Qiang Wang, 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
Daria Kasatkina vs Shuai Zhang
Jordan:
Kasatkina comes into this tournament after winning the title in Eastbourne. If she is feeling weary at all, this is the ideal opening round for her. Zhang has not played a singles match since the Madrid Open two months ago, focusing on playing doubles. It is difficult to see how she stays with Kasatkina.
Prediction: Kasatkina in 2
Steen:
Wracked with anxiety and enduring a terrible losing streak, Zhang, now 35 years old, took time off of tour to settle her mind. She is in the Wimbledon draw but she is winless this season. Kasatkina just won Eastbourne, a great grass court player, and has 26 wins at Tour level this season. This should be routine.
Prediction: Kasatkina in 2
Yesh:
Kasatkina is looking better on grass than she ever has before. Zhang, meanwhile, seems to be mostly done with her singles career. She’ll collect a paycheck for showing up at Wimbledon, but it won’t be a long stay.
Prediction: Kasatkina in 2
Tamara Korpatsch vs Yuriko Miyazaki
Jordan:
This is a good draw for both players. Miyazaki is a wild card with just one previous Grand Slam main draw win to her name, while Korpatsch has lost all her main draw grass court matches so far this season. This is a tough one to call, but Korpatsch is given a slight edge. She possesses an awkward playing style that may force enough errors from Miyazaki over three sets.
Prediction: Korpatsch in 3
Steen:
Miyazaki has never reached the Top 100 but has found success on the ITF tour, while Korpatsch is hovering around the Top 70. Korpatsch is just 2-10 on the season, so the British player has a chance. Given Korpatsch’s form, the home crowd can will Miyazaki to victory.
Prediction: Miyazaki in 3
Yesh:
Korpatsch isn’t great on grass, and Miyazaki has looked impressive at times. I doubt she’ll do anything but get blown out in the second round, but I think the Japanese-born Brit–who probably gets some home-crowd support–wins this one.
Prediction: Miyazaki in 3
Donna Vekic vs Xiyu Wang
Jordan:
Vekic was the runner-up in Bad Homburg, giving her some momentum for the third Grand Slam of the year. Wang plays her best tennis on hard courts and is up against it. Fatigue after her run in Bad Homburg is the only thing that could threaten Vekic here.
Prediction: Vekic in 2
Steen:
Vekic looks well positioned to make a run at Wimbledon. Wang is near a career high ranking but is just 12-12 at WTA level this season, Vekic is going to have her moment.
Prediction: Vekic in 2
Yesh:
Vekic looks good on grass this year, and even though Wang has real potential on all courts, her progress has been pretty slow lately. I think Vekic gets through this one easily.
Prediction: Vekic in 2
Bianca Andreescu vs Jaqueline Cristian
Jordan:
Andreescu has found her feet again impressively after being out for so long with an injury. She demonstrated that with her run to the final in ‘S-Hertogenbosch at the start of the grass court season. Cristian much prefers playing on clay and the Canadian’s athleticism on grass should take her into the next round.
Prediction: Andreescu in 2
Steen:
Cristian’s .500 record has placed her just four spots off her career high ranking at 62, Andreescu comes off the final in Den Bosch, the Canadian player suffered a back injury and hasn’t been healthy for a while, but she was selected to play in the Paris Olympics for Canada and is showing signs of a return to form. Her luck should continue in her first match at Wimbledon.
Prediction: Andreescu in 2
Yesh:
Andreescu’s career is heading towards tragedy territory, as her world-beating ability has been derailed by injury, consistently. When she’s healthy, almost no one beats her. Let’s see if she’s healthy at all now.
Prediction: Andreescu in 2
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
