As Wimbledon 2014 kicks off on Monday, the Australian Open finalist and the No. 2 American woman face challenging openers.

Sloane Stephens vs. Maria Kirilenko

In a tennis tournament draw, there are seeded players.  They represent the best in the sport at that given moment in time and are expected to advance according to their seed designation.  But as any sports fan can attest, things do not always go according to what is on paper. That is what Maria Kirilenko will look to prove when she takes on No. 18 seed Sloane Stephens at Wimbledon.

Kirilenko will have her work cut out for her if she hopes to upset Stephens.  The American’s struggles at the regular WTA level may be well known, but so, too, is her ability to flip the switch at the majors.  She reached the second week of both the Australian Open and Roland Garros this season, and as a 2013 Wimbledon quarterfinalist, there is no reason she cannot match those results in the coming fortnight.  She ought to be feeling good about her grass game after reaching the quarterfinals of Birmingham. 

But Kirilenko will not be lacking in belief either.  Despite falling at the first hurdle here in 2013, the Russian had escaped the opening round of Wimbledon the prior four years, including a quarterfinal showing in 2012.  Fans likely also remember her first-round defeat of Maria Sharapova at the 2010 Australian Open, so she will not shy away from the big moments.  Also, Kirilenko knows she is a much better player than her current ranking would suggest.  She has fallen outside the top 80 mainly due to battling various injuries for the last 12-18 months.  Last year, she was at a career high No. 10, so no doubt the talent is still there.

While Kirilenko will be keen to tap into her singles talent, it could be the talent that helped make her stand out in doubles that proves a difference-maker.  The Russian knows her way around the forecourt, and while she must be selective in her approaches, she needs to get to the net as much as possible.  Doing so will allow her to take the initiative and put pressure on Stephens to come up with passes.  For Stephens, she must remember that she has the greater firepower, and more importantly, the bigger serve.  She cannot become too passive and rely on her foot speed, and she needs to maintain a positive attitude to avoid becoming frustrated by Kirilenko’s variety and ability to track down balls. 

This match has the potential to be highly entertaining, but it is also a match that is more in the hands of Stephens than Kirilenko.  She has the bigger game, more confidence, and more matches under her belt this season.  But never underestimate a former member of the top 10.  Kirilenko got there once.  There is no telling when she might rediscover that form and produce a clinical performance. 

Dominika Cibulkova vs. Aleksandra Wozniak

At first glance, the first-round contest between Dominika Cibulkova and Aleksandra Wozniak may look like an easy win for the Slovak.  It is the No. 10 seed against someone ranked outside of the Top 100.  However, the Canadian definitely has the talent and the ability to potentially get the better of Cibulkova.  

Injuries may have seen Wozniak’s ranking take a tumble, but she was once ranked as high as No. 21 in the world.  She continues to work on rebuilding her ranking, which means she has logged a lot of match time in 2014 after playing many qualifying tournaments.  She did just that a couple of weeks ago in Birmingham, where she not only made the main draw but reached the Round of 16.  Her run at the Wimbledon tune-up translates to plenty of time on the grass, which could give her an added boost when she takes to the court against Cibulkova.

The Canadian will need to gain an edge where she can against the Slovak, for Cibulkova has been enjoying one of the best seasons of her professional career.  As previously mentioned, she is at a career-high ranking of No. 10, and she has achieved that milestone due to her stellar play throughout the first quarter of the year.  She also reached her first major final earlier this season in Melbourne, so she knows what it takes to go deep at a Grand Slam.  If that were not enough to have Cibulkova feeling optimistic, her head-to-head against Wozniak would.  She has a 2-0 record against her, and only one of the four sets played has been remotely competitive.

Cibulkova’s past success against Wozniak is not a complete surprise.  Both are solid, all-around players, but Cibulkova is the better mover.  Her movement allows her to stay in points longer, which means she can play higher-percentage tennis and feel less pressure to pull the trigger when pulled off the court.  It is for that reason that Wozniak must look to play first-strike tennis when they meet at Wimbledon.  She must control the majority of the rallies and keep the unforced error count down.  It is also essential that she hang with Cibulkova early.  The Slovak had a very poor clay season, so she is probably not brimming with confidence at the moment.  Additionally, she has a history of getting tight, and as the overwhelming favorite in this match, she might buckle under the pressure if Wozniak keeps it close.

In the end, this boils down to who handles the situation best.  Odds favor the No. 10 seed emerging with the victory.  She has the game and the experience.  But Wozniak is a fighter with underappreciated talent.  She is looking for the chance to resurrect her career, and this may be where her road to redemption begins.