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Wimbledon WTA Quarterfinals Preview

Jul 10th 2017

Garbiñe Muguruza versus Svetlana Kuznetsova

Two outside favorites who have quietly worked their way into the elite eight are Garbiñe Muguruza and Svetlana Kuznetsova.  Both women have looked impressive to this point, with the Russian having yet to drop a set, and Muguruza posting a win over Angelique Kerber in the last round in a match that would have made for a spectacular final.  Each woman is a power player, though the Spaniard goes bigger off both wings and should find herself in the driver's seat more frequently as a result.  The fourteenth seed also has a mental edge coming into this contest, as she has defeated Kuznetsova in their last three meetings, including earlier this year in Brisbane.  That said, their matches have always been competitive affairs. 

Garbine Muguruza

Kuznetsova also has a more versatile arsenal, so she might take the Spaniard out of rhythm by throwing shots at her she hasn't seen yet this tournament.  She is also apt to put Muguruza under more pressure than she has experienced this tournament, as the Russian is not shy about moving forward and knows what she is doing once she gets there.  Like their past encounters, this one should be tight.  The smart money is on Muguruza, as if she plays her best, then her power ultimately wins the day.  Even so, Kuznetsova has looked the slightly better of the pair to this point, so slight nod of the head to her to live up to her higher seeding.

Coco Vandeweghe versus Magdalena Rybarikova

Of the eight women remaining, the two who have arguably made the most of this wide-open draw are Coco Vandeweghe and Magdalena Rybarikova.  That Vandeweghe made it this far should not come as a total shock, however.  Grass is her ideal surface, as it rewards her power from the ground and finesse at the net.  She has also steadily been building confidence throughout this season and was poised to make something happen here in London.  That Rybarikova will be the woman across the net from her in this quarterfinal is more surprising.  The Slovak contributed to the demolition of the seeds in her section of the draw by upsetting Karolina Pliskova, and she has not looked back. 

Magdalena Rybarikova

And though Rybarikova is unseeded and ranked outside of the Top 80, nobody should be dismissing her chances on Tuesday.  She has been cleaning up at the ITF level and posting some notable results on the main tour.  Crucially though, she has won both of her prior meetings against the American, including this year at Roland Garros.  Yes, Vandeweghe boasts a greater weight of shot and a better all-around game.  If she demonstrates her top form, she is getting through to the semifinals.  But the pressure will squarely be on the American's shoulders, and Rybarikova is playing well enough to see her Cinderella run continue.  Still like Vandeweghe for the win, but it is no guarantee.

Venus Williams versus Jelena Ostapenko

A battle of the generations is on offer in this quarterfinal that pits veteran Venus Williams against young upstart Jelena Ostapenko.  It has been a bit of a topsy-turvy Wimbledon for both women, with both having to overcome some stiff challenges in the early rounds.  But they have fought their way through to set up what could be a fine display of power tennis.  It is no secret what Williams brings to the table.  She has always been one of the most powerful ball-strikers on tour, and that extends to her first serve.  In recent years, she has also become increasingly more adept at the net, a part of her game that excels even more on the lawns of Wimbledon.  She is also a five-time champion at this venue, and that experience alone can often be enough to see her through to the finish line. 

Venus Williams

All of that may not matter to Ostapenko, however.  The Latvian may currently have a mediocre serve and a game that is not yet as complete as that of the tenth seed's, but she can match and arguably surpass Williams from the ground.  Furthermore, she comes in as the reigning Roland Garros Champion, and it is encouraging to see that she has not had the letdown that has plagued some of the other more recent champions.  She continues to go fearlessly for her shots, racking up the winners in each match.  If the thirteenth seed brings her A-game, she can take this match away from Williams, but all things considered, it is hard to bet against Williams and history at SW 19.

Simona Halep versus Johanna Konta

In a match that could have easily been the final, Simona Halep will face Johanna Konta for a coveted berth in the final four.  This is a match that could evolve into a war of attrition, as these women are both excellent athletes that make opponents hit a lot of balls.  Of the pair, Halep is the more fleet of foot and a little better at changing up the trajectory of the ball.  That said, it is the Brit who hits the harder, flatter, and more penetrating ground strokes, which should only be more devastating on this surface.  Konta is also superior at moving forward and has better hands at the net.  The real X-factor in this match, however, will be the mental strength of each woman.  Konta has been made to work harder to reach this point, and she also has the pressure of trying to live up to the expectations of the home crowd. 

Johanna Konta

On the other hand, Halep must combat the strain of being the higher seed, and she also comes into this match knowing that if she wins, she will reach the top of the WTA rankings, which brings its own unique pressure.  She will be aware that she has lost to Konta in their only two previous meetings as well, one of which came this year in Miami.  Their past matches have always been tight tussles, and there is no reason to suspect that this latest installment will be any different.  It will likely come down to a handful of points, and if that is the case, with Konta already being battle-tested to reach this stage, the odds, albeit by a small margin, have to favor her.