Much unlike at the French Open, Wimbledon is relatively wide open on the women’s side. World No. 1 Iga Swiatek is dominant on clay and just recently captured her third Roland Garros title, but her grass-court resume is less than outstanding. In fact, Swiatek has never reached a final on grass and her best performance at Wimbledon is a fourth-round result.
As such, it should be an interesting fortnight at the All-England Club. Here are three players who could contend for the title.
Aryna Sabalenka
Sabalenka and other Belarusians and Russians who were banned from Wimbledon in 2022 should be playing with a chip on her shoulder this summer. Of course, it’s not like Sabalenka needs anything extra to help her have success at this tournament. The 25-year-old is overall one of the best players in the world and arguably the best on grass. Elena Rybakina won Wimbledon last season, but what’s to say Sabalenka wouldn’t have if she had been able to play? She now arrives in London as a major champion (2023 Australian Open) and she may depart as a two-time slam champ–even though her draw is not a great one.
Petra Kvitova
Kvitova also finds herself in a rough bottom half of the bracket. The 33-year-old Czech could meet Karolina Pliskova in the third round, Rybakina in the quarterfinals, and Sabalenka in the semis. Nonetheless, Kvitova can handle anything that is thrown at her in SW19. She is already a two-time Wimbledon champion and as the reigning Miami Open winner it is clear that she is not slowing down. A recent title in Berlin confirmed that Kvitova remains one of the most dangerous grass-courters in the world.
Veronika Kudermetova
If you want to back a longshot, look toward the top half of the draw. Yes, Swiatek is there–but as mentioned before, Swiatek on grass isn’t Swiatek on clay. Outside of the top seed, the top half is very weak. Kudermetova is the one who could take advantage, as her grass-court summer is already highlighted by a runner-up showing in ‘s-Hertogenbosch and an upset of Sabalenka in Berlin. The 26-year-old Russian is without question a dark horse.
Am worried for Karolina today playing Niemeier.
If Elena still isn’t really well then she could struggle in early rounds with Shelby and Cornet.
Don’t really like Barbora playing Heather Watson. Not easy to play a Brit first round who likes playing on grass. Come on Barbora and Petra and Karolina!!
Ons playing well!😀
C’mon Ons!
Heather Watson always disappoints I find.
Hope so because Barbora is one of my favourites!
The first round on grass is often tricky.
Hope Dom beats Romeo!!😀
Dom is one of my favourites, such bad luck to be side lined with injury for so long. Wrist 🙁
Ons won! YAY!
So many matches cancelled. Why not put some on Centre and court 1 after the scheduled matches??
Reckon there is a good chance of Dom beating Romeo…
Am hoping Hanfman beats the Cart Horse…probably should have done already yesterday..
Remember the times when there was no covered court and it rained for days?
Now we’re always guaranteed televised tennis
Bring back Cliff Richard and Singing in the Rain…😀
Family of ducks one year
Nice moment with Federer in royal box and Andy.
A nicer moment was Andy arranging for Nazarin Zaghari-Radcliffe to sit in the royal box. She’d watched him win Wimbledon from a prison cell in Iran.
That was as a very moving interview between her and Andy. Remember listening to it..
I watered up, you could hear how emotional Andy got.
Yes I was very moved. I remember Andy saying that was the most amazing thing anyone had ever said to him regarding his whole tennis career..or words to that effect..
Andy has become quite a moral exemplar with his giving his entire earnings last year to UNICEF in Ukraine. Kim seems very impressive as well..
Masrova beats Sherif. I went with the clay courter Sherif because Massa was so badly injured . Evans disappointing.
My ATP bracket can only improve
Surely these delays are going to advantage the players who are on the show courts who finish on time while others have to wait for days and end up playing on back to back days…
May end up seriously affecting the outcomes of matches..
Come on Dasha!!
Gosh the British crowd is annoying me! Applauding Dasha double faulting!
I don’t understand why people automatically cheer for their own compatriots. I feel zero affinity with Burrage.
Isn’t that the same in all countries? The British are generally quite reserved and polite in their support compared to say Italians or Americans.
By the way I couldn’t help thinking of that song ‘ pick up the pieces ‘ during the disruptions 😉
One commentator I can’t have is John Lloyd. He adds very little you can’t see yourself and never stops about Murray
Lloyd is kind of sour isn’t he? But I infinitely prefer him to Castle and Inverdale. Inverdale ‘s incursion into tennis is unbearable. Is there any sport which is safe from him?
I like having commentary but I have to mute him.
“Not much of a looker is she?” said the incredibly handsome hunk, John Inverdale.
Vomit.
Commenting on women’s appearance, frequently by exceptionally unattractive men, is an ancient form of bullying and social control.
It’s true that the kind of Brit who goes to tennis matches is more polite than than in other countries. Certainly not true of Brits at football matches which is a big reason why I don’t watch football.😠
I can’t place that song Al. Title is spot on though.😀
The average white band .You’ll have heard it.
Will google! Ta!
Marta beat Maria!! I missed it! Wow!
The rain delay seemed to destroy Maria, who had been winning, and Marta suddenly found her form.
Good chance Petra can’t finish her match today as it’s already 7.30 and she is not even on court. Maybe she won’t play at all.😠😠
She is the only top 10 seed not to have played yet.
Some players ie Iga have already played 2 matches.
This scheduling is extremely unfair and is putting some players at a significant disadvantage.
There is already a huge disparity in difficulty between the 2 sides of the draw.
Am fed up.😠
Petra playing so badly. Why keep going for broke if you keep missing? Play the margins.
Phew. Thank God that’s over!
Feels like the early rounds are the biggest test for Petra. If she gets through the first few rounds I think she will relax and play much better.
Elina wins!😀
Meanwhile as I feared Karolina is in a battle with Niemeier. Up a break in the second though.
Oh no. Karolina down a break in the third and injured after a fall.😪😪
God what a horrible day! Karolina out and Barbora about to follow…😪😪
Jelena out as well…😪
What a win for Vekic!!😀 very happy for her. Great match.
I am glad Garcia came through as well…
Cart Horse is out Alert!!😀
The Cart Horse loses to Ymer after being up 2 sets!!
Some good news after a generally horrible day..😀
Petra wins easily!😀
Phew!
Really honestly Petra is doing my head in. Stop going for difficult shots! She had 0-30 then went for broke into the corner and missed. Then did it again. Just keep the ball in the court!
Now it’s raining. She should have won by now.
Finally!!😀
I do think Petra will play better next round…
Andy Mira is rocking our WTA challenge. Looking down on all of us! Brilliant play, girl! Sending Clarissa over with some treats!
Hehehe…still early M!😀..many heavyweights still there!..interesting to c who still standing next sunday!..yeeehaaa!!
Ohh btw..thanks for the treat M!..as a thank u,i find clarissa a mate called ‘BLUE’!😁
How kind of you darling,to match make, but does that mean Clarissa might not return home to me? EEEEEEEEEEK!
Ohh…no worries M!..she will return to u as soon as possiblle’!..but..be alert!..she may bring new chick which i called ‘Rotgeon’ aka tsitsidovesa..but feel free to name a new one M as it sounds veryyy unsophisticated!
Is Clarissa a parrot??!!
Anyway, tsitsidovesa is brilliant mira! The 2 love birds Romeo and Paula are rather doing my head in. They are like one conjoined entity…
Hahaha!…no amy!..clarissa is a pigeon & blue is a parrot!..so Rotgeon is hibrid!..but of cozzz nothing logical in MAstupidland amy!😄
Ohhh….u’re one of doting fans of tsitsidosa amy?ermm…i wonder how long they can survive.. Apostolos seems a very domineering figure between them..a huge obstacle in their love story imo..let’s c!
Tsitsidovesa is a wonderful description mira!!😀
I know what you mean about Romeo’s father. Although I have seen him hugging Paula very enthusiastically.. The biggest obstacle for Romeo is probably his colossal ego..
I am always very impressed by your ability to come up with puns in English mira!! Seriously impressive..😀
Can I asked who you picked in both WTA and ATP mira? Am curious. Am guessing you picked Rybakina vs Iga and Djokovic vs Alcaraz? With Djokovic to win but dunno who you would pick for WTA.
Just guessing??
I really want Elina to beat Azarenka but apparently the hth is very lopsided..😪
Jolly well hope she does come back to me AM! I mean how else are we going to communicate….;)
Thank u very much ma’am for the compliment!…err tho i seriously/honestly don’t understand whatchu mean amy!..serious!
Ohhh….bout WTA/ATP,u’re 90% right bout my pick amy!…wooohooo!!…u’re genius!..hehe…yeah!..i picked Rybakina but opted for Bouzkova instead of Iga!(i told u MAstupidland do exist!)😆..on ATP,true its Novak/Alcaraz..but…ohh…i was sooo tempted to pick Carlos @ other’s bcoz i like the difference @ irregurality from other bracketteers..i love that ‘strangeness’ even tho it maybe backfired bigtime hahaha!
Very trueee M!..we’re the only one who still use a pigeon as a postman!..how fascinating!