The third round is beginning at Wimbledon, and 32 women remain to try and book their places on Manic Monday. There will be eight women’s matches on Friday, and we’re here to predict the five best of them for you. Predicting today are writers Brett Margolies, Jay Sandhu, and Lukas Weese, along with editor Yesh Ginsburg.
Wimbledon Day 5 Women’s Predictions
Karolina Pliskova vs Mihaela Buzarnescu
Brett:
Karolina Pliskova passed her second round test against Victoria Azarenka. She managed to win that more comfortably than most expected. I think she’ll play at a high level once again and win in a similar fashion.
Pliskova in 2
Jay:
If this match took place a year ago, Pliskova would easily be the winner. However today this match is so much more difficult to predict. Pliskova’s serve is so much more inconsistent and hasn’t been playing too well recently. Buzarnescu, on the other hand, has been on great form recently and will be full of confidence. It will be a close one, but I think Buzarnescu can cause the upset.
Prediction: Buzarnescu in 3
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Yesh:
One of the worst-kept secrets in women’s tennis is that Pliskova really struggles on grass. One of the recent revelations is that Buzarnescu is dominant on the surface. I don’t even think this should be called an upset.
Prediction: Buzarnescu in 2
Lukas:
This is a battle between two seeded players vying for a spot in the Round of 16. This is the first time Karolina Pliskova has ever made the third round at Wimbledon. She had 15 winners to 10 unforced errors against Azarenka. This will be the second time she is facing off against Buzarnescu, the first being at an ITF grass court tournament in Nottingham. While Buzarnescu is coming into Wimbledon making the final of Valley Classic, I think Pliskova’s powerful serve and groundstrokes will prove to be too strong, leading her to victory.
Prediction: Pliskova in 2
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Kristina Mladenovic vs Serena Williams
Brett:
Judging from her first two matches, it looks as if Serena is going to keep getting better and better if she keeps progressing. I don’t think she’ll have any issues against a player in Mladenovic who’s struggled for a large part of the 2018 season.
Prediction: Serena in 2
Jay:
Mladenovic has been impressive and managed to beat the always tricky Tatjana Maria, but Serena is a step too far for her in my opinion. Serena has been getting better in every round and will look to boss Mladenovic. Mladenovic will try to do the same but certainly doesn’t have as much power as her opponent and hits many more errors. Serena should win this one fairly easily.
Prediction: Serena in 2
Yesh:
Serena started this tournament out in good form and has been gifted a draw that will allow her to improve as she moves through it. Mladenovic is a solid player, but she shouldn’t have anything to trouble Serena here.
Prediction: Serena in 2
Lukas:
Serena is looking to advance to her 12th Round of 16 appearance at Wimbledon. She will be taking on unseeded Kristina Mladenovic of France. The two have met once before earlier this year at the French Open, where Serena won in straight sets. In last round’s match against Viktoriya Tomova, Serena won 84% of her first serve points saved only one break point. Mladenovic has also been serving well, winning 72% of her total service points last match. The key is how well will Mladenovic return Serena’s powerful serve. While the Frenchwoman will keep the match interesting, Serena is too experienced at this stage in a Grand Slam tournament, peaking at the right time to advance.
Prediction: Serena in 2
Evgeniya Rodina vs Madison Keys
Brett:
Picking against Madison Keys on grass is hard. Her power game suits the style perfectly, and she has to be confident going into the third round without dropping a set. I think she’ll advance to the round of 16 and face Serena Williams in a must-see match on Monday.
Prediction: Keys in 2
Jay:
Rodina has played so well to make it this far, but Keys is just too strong on grass. The American has cruised through her previous matches despite having more difficult opponents than Rodina. Keys should win this easily.
Prediction: Keys in 2
Yesh:
Keys has looked absolutely dominant this tournament. Rodina has done a very good job just to progress this far, but it would take something absolutely incredible for her to win this match.
Prediction: Keys in 2
Lukas:
Madison Keys is looking to advance to the Round of 16 by facing off against Russian Evgeniya Rodina, the first match between these two ladies. Keys had a brilliant second round match over Luksika Kumkhum, where she only committed 18 unforced errors and converted 68% of her first serve points. If she lowers her error count for a match, she is a dangerous player to play against. This will pose trouble for Rodina, who only won 56% of her first serve points and 50% of her second serve points. Keys is one of the contenders to win this tournament…she will utilize her effective groundstrokes and angles on shots to defeat Rodina.
Prediction: Keys in 2
Ekaterina Makarova vs Lucie Safarova
Brett:
It’ll be interesting to see how Makarova follows up her upset win over Caroline Wozniacki. Both lefties play a similar game which should make for entertaining tennis on the grass. I’d give a slight edge to Safarova.
Prediction: Safarova in 3
Jay:
Makarova caused one of the upsets of the tournament by knocking out Wozniacki, and this match looks just as difficult to call. Despite her brilliant win, Makarova has a tendency to play so well and then disappoint in the next match. Safarova has also been impressive and managed to dispatch an on form Radwanska. Though it will be close, I feel Safarova plays a lot more freely than the Russian and that will pull her through.
Prediction: Safarova in 3
Yesh:
Makarova played an amazing match to take out Caroline Wozniacki last round. The upset shows her potential on grass, but Safarova is a better overall (and more consistent) player on the surface. This should be a close one, but I’ll give Safarova the tiniest of edges.
Prediction: Safarova in 3
Lukas:
This is one of the marquee matchups of the third round on the women’s draw. Ekaterina Makarova is coming off an upset victory over the number two seed Caroline Wozniacki. She will be taking on Lucie Safarova, who always is a tough out on the grass courts. Safarova is 4-1 against Makarova, including a quarterfinal victory at Wimbledon that saw her win in straight sets. Both players are coming into this match with confidence but I think Safarova’s mixture of shots will put Makarova on her heels. It will be close but I have the seven-time champion on the WTA tour advancing to the Round of 16.
Prediction: Safarova in 3
Kiki Bertens vs Venus Williams
Brett:
Venus has found a way to come back in her first two matches after slow starts. Bertens played Venus very close at the Miami Open in March; I’d expect it to be the same as Venus has looked vulnerable so far this week. Experience will pay off in the end though.
Prediction: Venus in 3
Jay:
Bertens is having a really good year, but she is not comfortable on grass. On the opposite end, Venus is having a bad year but is an amazing grass court player although she struggled in the previous rounds. In their previous match, Bertens had a few match points against the American but failed to close it out so she will be looking for revenge, however I feel Venus’ experience will pull her through.
Prediction: Venus in 3
Yesh:
Venus has played a lot of tennis here, and she sometimes struggles with conditioning now. I’ll trust Venus to pull this out because she has earned the benefit of the doubt, but only by the slimmest of margins over the very tough Bertens.
Prediction: Venus in 3
Lukas:
Venus is back in the third round as a #9 seed, taking on the 20th seed Kiki Bertens. The two have met once before where Venus beat Bertens in Miami 5-7, 6-3, 7-5. Williams has played below her potential thus far this tournament, dropping sets in her first two matches. While Venus will look to win this match using her powerful groundstrokes, I see Bertens producing a variety of quality shots, making Williams run the full length of the court. It will be close but I will side with Bertens in a tight three set match to advance to the Round of 16.
Prediction: Bertens in 3
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