The Wimbledon tennis tournament has been slowed down by rain and so have our tennis picks. Many dozens of matches have still not been played, which includes our three picks from Wednesday. We’re still waiting to find out the results as to whether Garbine Muguruza, Sabine Lisicki and Simona Halep will advance, although it does look like they’ll get through their matches today. From the matches that we have seen, we haven’t witnessed too many surprises. Barbora Strycova, Annika Beck, Sloane Stephens, Timea Bacsinszky, Monica Niculescu and Mandy Minella have all advanced.
If all first-round matches aren’t completed on Thursday, the tournament will have to play on the Middle Sunday, something which has very rarely happened in the event’s long and illustrious history. But then again, it is London, so is it really that surprising that we’ve been bogged down with rain? In the midst of this, a few players will play second-round matches later in the day… if the rain stays away.
CoCo Vandeweghe vs. Timea Babos
This is a matchup in which Vandeweghe should hold the upper hand. She reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon last year, thanks to a booming serve which enables her to win a lot of quick points on grass. Being able to win points with fewer than five strokes is essential on grass – the surface plays that way, and it’s hard to get into heavy topspin rallies which are facilitated more readily by clay or hardcourts. Vandeweghe should hold the upper hand in this regard. Babos is no pushover, but Vandeweghe has the tools needed to save break points and win deuce points at a level Babos does not. As long as Vandeweghe’s first-serve percentage is in the low to mid-60s, she should be in good shape. Take Vandeweghe with your tennis picks.
Pick: Vandeweghe in three sets
Eugenie Bouchard vs. Johanna Konta
This is a matchup between a 2014 Wimbledon finalist, Bouchard, and the first British woman to be seeded at Wimbledon since 1984 (Konta). Both players moved through the first round on Wednesday and are moving directly into the second round on Thursday, without a day off. Bouchard started her match on an outer court, but finished on Centre Court because the roof on the stadium enabled her to finish her match. This enabled her section of the draw, shared by Konta, to fully finish on Wednesday and create equal rest for all of those players in the field.
Playing on Centre Court could give Bouchard a slight advantage, since this is also a show-court match on Thursday. Konta could get nervous. That’s not something to be completely dismissed.
However, Konta beat Monica Puig in the first round. Puig was viewed as a dangerous player who could make the fourth round of the tournament and take out someone of Konta’s caliber. That was a very impressive win for Konta, and as a result, it is very hard to pick against her here. Bouchard had that incredible 2014 season, but she’s not the same player now. Konta is clearly superior and should win. Go with Konta for your tennis picks in this spot.
Pick: Konta in straight sets
Agnieszka Radwanska vs. Ana Konjuh
This is a match which Radwanska should be able to control with relative ease…assuming she’s not forced to play in rain. You can imagine how happy she is to see the rain drops falling after she was forced to play in the French Open (a huge mistake by Roland Garros officials), which cost her the match. But that shouldn’t happen here.
Radwanska does not hit the ball extremely hard. She will slice and chip and guide the ball directionally. She plays an off-pace game which frustrates opponents and will force them to hit shots from angles they’re not used to. She is a former Wimbledon finalist who made the semifinals in a separate year as well. She’s equipped to do well at Wimbledon, and Konjuh is not strong or credentialed enough to take her out. We’ll take Radwanska with our tennis picks here.
Pick: Radwanska in straight sets
