Friday 22 June 2012

Wimbledon preview (follow me maybe?)

The draw for Wimbledon is released. Let's try to predict and jinx whoever I pick.

[1] Maria Sharapova (RUS) v Anastasia Rodionova (AUS)
[Q] Vesna Dolonc (SRB) v Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL)
Hsieh Su-Wei (TPE) v [WC] Virginie Razzano (FRA)
Stephanie Foretz Gacon (FRA) v [29] Monica Niculescu (ROU)

[23] Petra Cetkovska (CZE) v Vania King (USA)
Sloane Stephens (USA) v [Q] Karolina Pliskova (CZE)
Bojana Jovanovski (SRB) v Eleni Daniilidou (GRE)
Petra Martic (CRO) v [15] Sabine Lisicki (GER)

[12] Vera Zvonareva (RUS) v Mona Barthel (GER)
Edina Gallovits-Hall (ROU) v Silvia Soler-Espinosa (ESP)
Chang Kai-Chen (TPE) v Andrea Hlavackova (CZE)
Kim Clijsters (BEL) v [18] Jelena Jankovic (SRB)

[28] Christina McHale (USA) v [WC] Johanna Konta (GBR)
Lesia Tsurenko (UKR) v Mathilde Johansson (FRA)
Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) v Alberta Brianti (ITA)
Lucie Hradecka (CZE) v [8] Angelique Kerber (GER)

[3] Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) v Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK)
Venus Williams (USA) v Elena Vesnina (RUS)
Iveta Benesova (CZE) v Heather Watson (GBR)
Jamie Hampton (USA) v [27] Daniela Hantuchova (SVK)

[20] Nadia Petrova (RUS) v [Q] Maria Elena Camerin (ITA)
Timea Babos (HUN) v [WC] Melanie Oudin (USA)
Tamarine Tanasugarn (THA) v Anna Tatishvili (GEO)
[Q] Camila Giorgi (ITA) v [16] Flavia Pennetta (ITA)

[11] Li Na (CHN) v Ksenia Pervak (KAZ)
Sorana Cirstea (ROU) v Pauline Parmentier (FRA)
[WC] Naomi Broady (GBR) v Lourdes Dominguez Lino (ESP)
Alexandra Cadantu (ROU) v [17] Maria Kirilenko (RUS)

[30] Peng Shuai (CHN) v [Q] Sandra Zaniewska (POL)
Jarmila Gajdosova (AUS) v Ayumi Morita (JPN)
Arantxa Rus (NED) v [LL] Misaki Doi (JPN)
Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) v [5] Samantha Stosur (AUS)

[6] Serena Williams (USA) v Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE)
Johanna Larsson (SWE) v [Q] Melinda Czink (HUN)
Vera Dushevina (RUS) v Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN)
Stephanie Dubois (CAN) v [25] Zheng Jie (CHN)

[19] Lucie Safarova (CZE) v Kiki Bertens (NED)
Chanelle Scheepers (RSA) v [WC] Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ)
Laura Pous-Tio (ESP) v Anne Keothavong (GBR)
[Q] Coco Vandeweghe (USA) v [10] Sara Errani (ITA)

[13] Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) v Klara Zakopalova (CZE)
Olga Govortsova (BLR) v [Q] Annika Beck (GER)
Polona Hercog (SLO) v [Q] Kristyna Pliskova (CZE)
[WC] Laura Robson (GBR) v [24] Francesca Schiavone (ITA)

[31] Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) v Sofia Arvidsson (SWE)
Patricia Mayr-Achleitner (AUT) v Varvara Lepchenko (USA)
Elena Baltacha (GBR) v Karin Knapp (ITA)
Akgul Amanmuradova (UZB) v [4] Petra Kvitova (CZE)

[7] Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) v Tamira Paszek (AUT)
Alize Cornet (FRA) v Nina Bratchikova (RUS)
Greta Arn (HUN) v Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ)
Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) v [32] Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS)

[21] Roberta Vinci (ITA) v [WC] Ashleigh Barty (AUS)
Urszula Radwanska (POL) v Marina Erakovic (NZL)
[Q] Mirjana Lucic (CRO) v Alexandra Panova (RUS)
Casey Dellacqua (AUS) v [9] Marion Bartoli (FRA)

[14] Ana Ivanovic (SRB) v Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez (ESP)
Kimiko Date-Krumm (JPN) v Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR)
Anastasiya Yakimova (BLR) v Mandy Minella (LUX)
Shahar Peer (ISR) v [22] Julia Goerges (GER)

[26] Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP) v Simona Halep (ROU)
[Q] Jana Cepelova (SVK) v [Q] Kristina Mladenovic (FRA)
Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU) v Romina Oprandi (SUI)
Irina Falconi (USA) v [2] Victoria Azarenka (BLR)

Everyone is on the lookout for the unseeded pair of former number 1s, Venus Williams and Kim Clijsters. Venus received a kind first round facing Elena Vesnina, but will face Agnieszka Radwanska in the 2nd round. Venus will be eager to exact revenge as Aga knocked her out in the French Open, only to crash out to crazy Svetlana Kuznetsova in the next round. Kim Clijsters drew a slumping Jelena Jankovic in the first round. So the 2 former number 1s will clash in the opening round. Will Jankovic up her game? Or will Kim be unceremoniously be shown the door in her last Wimbledon?

Predictions:

(1) Maria Sharapova def. Kim Clijsters
Venus Williams def. (11) Li Na
(6) Serena Williams def. (4) Petra Kvitova
(9) Marion Bartoli def. (2) Victoria Azarenka

(1) Maria Sharapova def. Venus Williams
(6) Serena Williams def. (9) Marion Bartoli

(6) Serena Williams def. (1) Maria Sharapova

That's right! I gave Serena the kiss of death again! After her embarrassing exit in Roland Garros, I'm sure Serena will be back with a vengeance. And where better to stamp her authority than her playground, Wimbledon. Sharapova will be confident after winning Paris, but she always crumbles against Serena. So if she faces Serena in the finals, I hope she gives a better fight. And as usual, she will slaughter Kim mercilessly like what she did in Australian Open 2007. Poor Kim (if she manages to reach the quarter-finals in one piece).

By the way, I've seen the traffic of the blog and there seems to be quite a number of views! But I am still stuck at 2 followers. It's kind of deflating to know only 2 are concerned enough to follow me. So if you like what you've read, follow me maybe? ;)

2 comments:

  1. I'm now following your blog and enjoy reading your predictions! Perhaps you could follow my blog too ;-)

    ReplyDelete