Wimbledon Ladies Singles “Strawberries & Cream Sweet 16” Preview
The first week is over for the women, and while all of Wimbledon feels like a tea party-inspired anti-incumbent insurrection, the Ladies results don’t necessarily bear that out.
#1 Sharapova has had an easy week. It immediately cranks up from here, as she’ll face Lisicki in the 4th round. The winner will have the honors of facing Kerber or Clijsters in the semi. She will probably beat Lisicki in 2 and Kerber/Clijsters in 3.
#3 Radwanska shouldn’t have a letdown here, which is the only way Carmila Giorgi becomes the Yaroslava Shvedova of Wimbledon. Not to mention the all-important complication that Shvedova herself may still end up being the Shvedova of Wimbledon. I last visited Giorgi as a scrappy qualifier just three months ago in Charleston. Her streak is admirable, but the second week of a Grand Slam is about separating the closers of the present and the contenders of the future. Expect Aga to take care of business.
Shuai Peng and Maria Kirilenko is the toughest Sweet 16 match-up to predict. They’re both here. They’re both accomplished. And only one can win. Pick’em.
Serena Williams may be the only player who isn’t frightened to face Roland Garros Qualifiying Quarterfinalist Yaroslava Shvedova. And #6 Serena may be the best-suited player to stop the Fightin’ Kazakh in her tracks. Serena prevails, if only on that unstoppable serve. You cannot go from #164 to back-to-back Slam Quarterfinals. If I’m lying, I’m buying on Shvedova.
Defending Wimbledon Champion and #4 seed Petra Kvitova must face a fellow Slam winner in Francesca Schiavone. This could be the match of the weekend. Kvitova in 3.
Tamira Paszek is so hot right now, it would be foolhardy to go against her except against someone in the top 5. You must expect her to find a way to will herself to a victory over Roberta Vinci some how, some way.
That leaves Ana Ivanovic against #2 Victoria Azarenka. Go with Azarenka. For now.
See? Unlike the topsy-turvy men’s field, all top 4 women’s seeds are still here. So are so-called 6 seed Serena Williams and so-called #47 Clijsters. Like the Pound Sterling, it’s very stable.
Predictions:
QF’s
Sharapova d. Kerber
Radwanska d. Kirilenko
S. Williams d. Kvitova
Azarenka d. Paszek
SF’s
Sharapova d. Radwanska
S. Williams d. Azarenka
Final
Sharapova d. S. Williams
–S. Fogleman
