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.
Amy: Katie and Alex are similarily doing my head in. Balding and Castle seem to be drooling all over them all the flipping time!
Completely agree Margot!!
Also the building up of Boulter for the match with Elena went horribly wrong for them so that they had to go into mad overdrive describing Elena’s performance as one of the greatest ever &tc..No adjective or hyperbole could suffice for them..
They never learn…
I had a very naughty chuckle at the build up! Idiots both of them.
Yes their nonsensical rhetoric is always good for a laugh! Not to say a delicious dose of Schadenfreude …
OMG!!
Elina! Am in tears.
Svetolina so emotional, playing inspired tennis! Gooooo!
Ignorant crowd booing Victoria after such a good match! Players had an agreement not to shake hands,
So much for Petra relaxing and playing better. She is playing dreadful ly. What is the point of her coach? Why doesn’t he tell her to stop going for broke and hitting out all the time?
Am not watching any more.
This is what I feared she would do.
Ons was brilliant, so happy for her, but Petra sadly just didn’t turn up.
I was afraid before the tournament started she would do this. It’s happened several times before that she shows great form on grass beforehand and then is a shadow of that at wimby.
She should have a psych coach like many of the other women.
Come on Elina! Really honestly she should have won that set and the match. Got tight again.
OMG!!
I can’t believe it!
Super classy embrace and smile from Iga!😀
Well done Elina! What a story! Go win the whole thing now!
If she can beat Iga she can definitely beat Vondrousova!
The crowd is willing her on..!
Hope Gael and Sky turn up soon..😀 Gael is adorable..
Anyway, I really hope Maddie beats Saba tomorrow. She has the game on grass to beat her. Time for her to step up.
I really like Maddie too. Agree re grass game. C’mon!
I remember when she won Eastbourne ages ago. I thought she would win big with her talent.
She needs to believe she can do it. She does have the tools she needs. Turning around the match against Andreeva wasn’t easy as it’s really difficult mentally to play a teenager. Hope that helps her.
What a win for Ons!
Sad for Maddie…
So happy for Ons, she looked amazing. I’m sad for Maddie too, she was overwhelmed by Sabs, who sounds as if she’s murdering a tiger.
I like Maddie but happy for Saba too . Must be her only fan on here…
And even more pleased form Ons.
No, you are not her only fan here.
For ons
Elina not doing enough with her serve. She served much better in the earlier rounds. She won’t win if she carries on serving like this.
Looks like all the nerves and pressure have hit Elina big time because she is way off the level she played in the last few rounds.
Iga must be gnashing her teeth watching this…
I had a really bad feeling before this match started. Vondrousava has got to a final before while Elina has been to the semis multiple times and not made it.
Also, Elina was putting too much pressure on herself with all the talk before the match. When someone does that I always think it will go wrong unless they are Novak. He is about the only p!ayer I know who can make confident predictions about himself and back them up.
Elina didn’t show up till half way through the second set. Such a shame. The weight of expectation too heavy on her shoulders?
Congrats to Vonderosa.
C’mon Ons, onwards!
Oh FFS she’s murdering two tigers now! Ons should complain.
Ons getting chances on that serve! But difficult as heck.
Surely a whole zoo!!
I doubt Elizabeth is watching this but if she is she will not be enjoying it…
Where is Elizabeth??!!
I just came back!! Didn’t watch the second set of Elina as too upsetting.
Ons is playing way below the level of the Elena match. Missing shots she really should make …
I didn’t see the first set so she may have been playing much better then… Ons seems to have lost it mentally now…
Yesss! One set all!😀
Come on Ons!
Yessss!! Ons wins!!
Massive favourite to win it now…
OMG! OMG! ONS!ONS!
Amy: haven’t been so nervous since watching Andy in his pomp!
Was nervewracking Margot!!
She had better bloody well win on Saturday!!!
The crowd definitely really helped her.
She has way more support here than anyone else…
Esp a Belarussian.
In a way Im glad we didnt have that Ukraine-Belarussian final…
Happy for Ons she a great grass court player
The only Belarusian s who are victims are those protesters who were beaten, tortured and raped by Lukashenko ‘s thugs after he stole the election. Saba signed a letter supporting him and celebrated an event at NYEve in his company.
The idea that she is some victim is laughable.
I used to like her but that is definitely in the past tense now.
The crowd will be exactly the same when she plays Vondrousava. They just really really like Ons. It was the same last year.