Here
it is: too much of a good thing. Spoilt for choice, surrounded by riches and
unsure where to look or whom to back. This is the quandary the second Monday of
Wimbledon offers every year, uniquely in the Slams, holding all the round of 16
matches on one day. Get a lucky ticket and make the right moves and you could
catch a bit of all 32 men and women remaining in the draw. But, as Rafael Nadal
mentioned in his press conference, the sheer number of matches means that you are
definitely going to miss some good players as well. The peril of plenty.
The
men's draw is top heavy after a few years and the women's is open as an field
ready to be plucked by the next Ostapenko.Or maybe the current one herself, who
has shown admirable grit and spirit in fighting her way to the last 16. She
plays the Ukrainian, Elena Svitolina in one of the many women's matches which
are just too close to call. Ostapenko had an unforgettable French Open, and so
did Svitolina, but for different reasons. Serving for her quarter-final match
against Simona Halep, the Croatian proceed to melt down in epic proportions,
and lost 12 of the next 13 games to lose 3-6,7-6(8), 6-0. Either way, it
promises to be close and thrilling. Pick: Ostapenko
Romanian
Simona Halep, the beneficiary of the Svitolina meltdown, who then proceeded to
have her own in the final (up a set and 3-1 with a point for a double break
before she was beaten down by the Latvian in the French finals) goes up against
the most popular mum in Belarus, Viktoria Azarenka, one of the most popular
players on tour. Azarenka has been a darling of the crowd even more than usual,
but her lack of sufficient match play coupled with Halep's form and skills
should see the end of the ride for Azarenka. Pick: Halep
The
other two matches in this section of the draw pit 37-year old Venus Williams,
playing her 20th Wimbledon, against the 19 year old Croat, Ana
Konjuh, in the first match on Centre Court and the British hope in the ladies
(yes, you read that right) Johanna Konta against Carolina Garcia. Garcia is
still trying to live up to her early promise and is playing well, but Konta has
the force and the crowd behind her. Konjuh is no lucky winner here, having
earned the epithet 'Baby Serena'. Venus has all the experience in the world on
this grass, but youth has no fear and that could lead to a tight match for the
American. Picks: Konta and Williams
At
the top of the draw, Serena Williams' last two title victims, World #1
Angelique Kerber and Venezuelan Garbine Muguruza tee off, both having ordinary
years after their breakthroughs last year. Kerber has been hanging on to the
top ranking by her nails, but her toughness is a huge asset. Muguruza takes to
the grass more naturally, and that might be enough for her. The Pole Aggie
Radwanska, another Serena-final victim takes on the apparently ageless Russian
Svetlana Kuznetsova, with the Russian dominating the head to head (13-4).
Picks: Muguruza and Kuznetsova
In
the least heralded section of the women's draw, the American Coco VAndeweghe,
approaching something her form from Australia, where she made a semi-final run,
emerges as the strongest favorite to overturn the Dane Caroline Wozniacki and
in the battle of near-unknowns, Maggie Rybarikova, who defeated Petra Kvitova
earlier should hold the advantage of Petra Martic from Croatia.
Picks:
Halep, Konta, Ostapenko, V Williams from the bottom half and Vandeweghe,
Rybarikova, Kuznetsova and Muguruza from the top half.
Qualification
(for potential bettors): my original picks were Pliskova and Kvitova! You have
been warned.
If the women's field
is young and inexperienced, the men's is more traditionally loaded.
There
are fewer oh-so-open matches on the men's side, with the famed Big Four coming
in on good form – Djokovic in the last two weeks, Murray the last month, Nadal
and Federer all year. Given that the last time someone outside this
ever-amazing quartet won Wimbledon was in 2002 (Lleyton Hewitt), it would be a
brave, rich and foolhardy person to bet on anyone else. Djokovic should handily
beat Frenchman Adrian Mannarino, who just doesn’t have the tools to challenge
the Serb. Likewise Murray will be up against another shot maker in another
Frenchman Benoit Paire (just YouTube Paire dropshot to sample his ridiculous talent)
but should be strong enough to overcome him. Nadal faces a slightly tricky
opponent in Giles Muller, a fast/grass court specialist with a monster serve
who can take time away from the Spaniard and make things tough. Bad news –
Muller beat Nadal at Wimbledon. Good news: That was 12 years ago, and Nadal has
gotten better on the grass since then. Federer plays the most intriguing
matchup against the Bulgarian heartthrob Grigor Dimitrov who has been saddled
with the impossible-to-live-up-to moniker 'Baby Fed', his game resembling the
Swiss master's in many ways. But everything Grigor does, Roger does better. And
the head to head is five – nil in his favor too. Expect the big 4 to all come
through, with Nadal facing the toughest challenge.
In
the remaining matches, the American Sam Querrey, who knocked out Djokovic in
the third round, last year should be able to handle the big serving South
African Kevin Anderson, who was two sets to love up against Djokovic two years
ago. Expect a close serve-fest. Marin Cilic should put paid to Roberta Bautista
Agut's surprising run this far, and Thomas Berdych's grass-court nous should be
sufficient against Dominic Theim, who has surprised many by progressing this
far. The last matchup is a doozy – last year's finalist and monster serving
Canadian Milos Raonic against rising superstar Russian Alex Zverev, for whom
the sky is the limit.
Picks:
Murray, Querrey, Nadal and Cilic to come through from the top half and Raonic,
Federer, Berdych and Djokovic from the bottom.
Prediction:
More close matches on the women's side. On the men's side: Dimitrov-Federer
will be beautiful to watch, Nadal could get pushed hard against Muller and
Raonic-Zverev is almost too close to call.
Too much of a good
thing: Never enough!
No comments:
Post a Comment