2017 WTA Wimbledon Preview

2017 WTA WIMBLEDON PREVIEW

6/30/2017

This Week In Tennis
Season 2, Vol 19a

Welcome to the WTA Wimbledon preview edition of "This Week in Tennis." The world's best tennis players are completing their final preparations for the year's third major at The All England Lawn Tennis Tennis and Croquet Club. Below you will be given a rundown of the top eight seeds, players to watch, and suggested some intriguing first round matches at SW19. This preview also features a collection of tennis writing and podcasts from the past week.

Last year's champion, Serena Williams, will miss her second successive major tournament as she awaits the arrival of her first child. Thus, like the French Open, the women's field is ripe with possibility: the number one ranking is up for grabs; can Pliskova or Halep finally supplant Kerber? Since 2000, only six women have lifted the Venus Rosewater Dish: Serena (7), Venus (5), Sharapova, Mauresmo, Kvitova (2), and Bartoli; will someone new step to the fore like Ostapenko did at the French Open? Then there are the myriad comeback stories: Kvitova in her third event back after suffering a knife attack, Victoria Azarenka in her second after giving birth, and Sloane Stephens in her first after almost a year of being off tour.

Click here for the ATP Wimbledon preview

Photo credit: Reuters

WTA SINGLES DRAW

(1) Angelique Kerber

Best Result: F - 2016
2016 Result: F

Last year's finalist enters Wimbledon with 1300 points to defend and her number one ranking once again in serious jeopardy. She is without a title in 2017 and owns a paltry 21-13 match record on the season. Even less comforting for Kerber, she potentially faces Safarova in the third round before Muguruza in the fourth. On a more optimistic note, perhaps her pair of wins in Eastbourne over Kr. Pliskova and Arruabarrena will be enough to kick start her season and propel her into week two.

(2) Simona Halep

Best Result: SF - 2014
2016 Result: QF

Halep enters the Championships after another near miss at the French Open, losing in the final to Jelena Ostapenko. The last time Halep played Wimbledon after reaching the French final (2014), she scored her career best result at the AELTC, making the semifinals in 2014. If she is to match that result, she will likely have to go through Mallorca champion Sevastova in the fourth round, then either Kvitova or Konta in the quarterfinals.

(3) Karolina Pliskova

Best Result: 2R - 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
2016 Result: 2R

Prior to the 2016 U.S. Open, the third seed had failed to advance past the third round at any major in her career. She's since managed to make the finals, semifinals, and quarterfinals at the last three Slams starting with a loss to Angelique Kerber at last year's U.S. Open. She has the game -- and now the confidence -- to keep that streak of strong Slam results going at Wimbledon. Also working in her favour is one of the easier draws to the quarterfinals of the top seeds.

(4) Elina Svitolina

Best Result: 2R - 2015, 2016
2016 Result: 2R

One of the breakout players of 2017, Svitolina finds herself bumped up to the fourth seed with Serena Williams not competing. The higher seeding did her no favours, however, as she draws popular darkhorse Ash Barty in the first round, and a potential fourth round meeting with French Open champ Ostapenko. Svitolina also enters the tournament with fitness concerns surrounding a heel injury. A first ever trip to the second week of Wimbledon would be a huge success for Svitolina considering all the obstacles she faces.

(5) Caroline Wozniacki

Best Result: 4R - 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015
2016 Result: 1R

One of the most consistent players on tour since her resurgence at the 2016 U.S. Open, Wozniacki enters Wimbledon in search of her first ever quarterfinal showing at the AELTC. As of this writing, she is set to face Karolina Pliskova in the Eastbourne final, having already beaten Osaka, Vesnina, Halep, and Watson. At the very least, Wozniacki will enter Wimbledon in form, and with the benefit of a string of grass wins. Her likely path includes an ice cold Babos in the first round, the always dangerous Pironkova in the second, Kasatkina in the third, and Mladenovic in the fourth.

(6) Johanna Konta

Best Result: 2R - 2016
2016 Result: 2R

Despite never going further than the second round at Wimbledon, Konta was nonetheless one of the hot favourites heading into this year's event. She's played three tune-up events, reaching the final in Nottingham (Vekic), round of sixteen in Birmingham (Vandeweghe), and the semifinals in Eastbourne (w/o). Unfortunately for Konta, she suffered a back injury in her Eastbourne quarterfinal win that, as of this writing, leaves her questionable to even play next week. If she does, she will face Hsieh in the first round, the same opponent who beat her at the same stage at the French Open.

(7) Svetlana Kuznetsova

Best Result: QF - 2003, 2005, 2007
2016 Result: 4R

Fresh off her 32nd birthday, Kuznetsova enters The Championships in search of her first quarterfinal showing since 2007. Her only grass tuneup was in Eastbourne, where she beat Barthel and Mladenovic before losing to Pliskova in the quarterfinals. Drawn in Kerber's quarter, Kuznetsova path to the semifinals is potentially: Jabeur, Makarova, Davis, Radwanska, Kerber/Muguruza. Given Kerber's lack of form and Muguruza's inconsistency, Kuznetsova is as good a pick as any to come through that section.

(8) Dominika Cibulkova

Best Result: 2011, 2016
2016 Result: QF

The #8 seed has suffered through a terrible season to date, marred by injury and a host of first round losses. Her 14-14 record on the year doesn't inspire confidence, nor do her three one-and-done results in grass tuneup events. Her draw won't provide her with any favours either: Petkovic in the first round, Konjuh in the third, and one of the favourites, Venus Williams, lurking in the fourth.

TOP 32 SEEDS

1. Kerber
2. Halep
3. Pliskova
4. Svitolina
5. Wozniacki
6. Konta
7. Kuznetsova
8. Cibulkova

9. Radwanska
10. V Williams
11. Kvitova
12. Mladenovic
13. Ostapenko
14. Muguruza
15. Vesnina
16. Pavlyuchenkova

17. Keys
18. Sevastova
19. Bacsinszky
20. Gavrilova
21. Garcia
22. Strycova
23. Bertens
24. Vandeweghe

25. Suarez Navarro
26. Lucic-Baroni
27. Konjuh
28. Davis
29. Kasatkina
30. Shuai
31. Vinci
32. Safarova

PLAYERS TO WATCH

CoCo Vandeweghe - Grass is her favourite surface and she's got new coach Pat Cash in tow.
Jelena Ostapenko - All eyes on the French Open winner to see what she will conjure in her encore.
Ash Barty - A finalist in Birmingham and quarterfinalist in Nottingham, Barty (#53) could be primed for a big breakthrough
Petra Kvitova - After suffering a horrific knife attack that threatened her career, Kvitova is back and in search of her second title of the year from three events, and third Wimbledon.
Venus Williams - Last year's semifinalist at Wimbledon, Venus is the only WTA player to make the second week at each of the last five majors.
Victoria Azarenka - Former world #1 playing only her second tournament back (Mallorca) since giving birth. She draws rising star Bellis in a tough first rounder.
Sloane Stephens - Playing her first event since the Olympics last year after foot surgery.

FIRST ROUND INTRIGUE

(8) Cibulkova vs Petkovic
(27) Konjuh vs Lisicki
(4) Svitolina vs Barty
Azarenka vs Bellis
(9) Radwanska vs Jankovic
Riske vs Stephens
(7) Kuznetsova vs Jabeur
(25) Suarez Navarro vs Bouchard

TOURNAMENT NOTES

There are only three former champions in the draw: V. Williams, Kvitova, and Hingis (entered in doubles).
Serena Williams will not defend her title from 2016 as she is currently off the tour awaiting the birth of her first child. Marion Bartoli in 2013 is the last Wimbledon champion (retirement) who didn't attempt to defend her title the following year
The last time the top eight seeds made the quarterfinals was 1979.
Six women have won the last 17 Wimbledon events: S. Williams (7), V. Williams (5), Kvitova (2), Sharapova, Mauresmo, and Bartoli.

2016 Champions:

Singles: Serena Williams
Doubles: S Williams/V Williams
Mixed Doubles: Watson/Kontinen

□□ @wimbledon with @shelbsrogers

A post shared by Victoria Azarenka (@vichka35) on Jun 28, 2017 at 12:48pm PDT

See you soon, @Wimbledon □ pic.twitter.com/qjbzf3a8UU
— Sloane Stephens (@SloaneStephens) June 18, 2017

Yessss finally □ pic.twitter.com/4j9p8mTrT6
— Maria Sharapova (@MariaSharapova) June 27, 2017

Who else's little boy is like super competitive?! Like to the point I just can't bring myself to beat him at ANYTHING (even walking lol) because the crankiness that follows isn't worth it □‍♀️ we are trying to teach him that you can't win all the time but as long as you have a go and always try your best that is all you can ask for right □ although the competitor in me loves his competitive nature □□□ #lovesatrophy #lifeontour

A post shared by CASEY DELLACQUA (@caseydellacqua) on Jun 27, 2017 at 3:31am PDT

This victory is for my team and fans to say thank you for being with me in the tough times. We didn't know if I would play again let alone win a trophy so this is an extra special moment. And it is for all of us to share. I also wanted to say how much I enjoyed sharing the court with Ash and appreciated her kind words in the ceremony. Birmingham will forever have a special place in my heart. Love to everyone from a very tired Petra ♥️□ #teampetra #aegonclassic

A post shared by Petra Kvitova (@petra.kvitova) on Jun 25, 2017 at 11:26am PDT

Dear John, I adore and respect you but please please keep me out of your statements that are not factually based.
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) June 26, 2017

I've never played anyone ranked "there" nor do I have time. Respect me and my privacy as I'm trying to have a baby. Good day sir
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) June 26, 2017

Every time someone asks me to write my initials I write no.
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@Naomi_Osaka_) June 25, 2017

Thank you for all the birthday wishes !! Had the best day with my friends and family □□□□□□□□□□□□#21 pic.twitter.com/CzAC6WcaEJ
— Donna Vekic (@DonnaVekic) June 29, 2017

Bravo□□□□□□□@Petra_Kvitova https://t.co/Hiz3BK2Sol
— Svetlana Kuznetsova (@SvetlanaK27) June 25, 2017

ON THE WEB

No Frills, No Crowds, No Money: The Lonely Road to Tennis Glory
Male coaches continue to dominate women's game
Could Serena Williams beat an inferior man in tennis? Here's why it's a dumb debate
Laid off from ESPN, this Reporter is Taking Another Swing at Pro Tennis
How this 20-year-old shocked the tennis world with one shot
Tennis and Motherhood
How do you train to be a tennis umpire?
Why Venus Williams and the U.S. women could rule Wimbledon
Plan to Combine Fed and Davis Cup Finals Could Alter Tennis Landscape
Still Without Full Strength, Kvitova a Popular Pick to win Wimbledon
Anyone for equality? Unseen archive featuring Sue Barker shows how tennis served women’s cause

PODCASTS

The Body Serve - Hello Grass, BYE J Mac: Don’t Come For Serena Unless She Sends For You
Beyond The Baseline - Kim Clijsters on Wimbledon, Motherhood, Hall of Fame Induction
Realz Tenis Fanz - Cutting through the Grass with Maria and Federer
Tennis.com - Turf Talk: Considering the Tours as Wimbledon Begins
Thirty Love - Tumaini Carayol on Vika and Petra's comebacks
Top Spin Tennis Pod - Up Yours! Feminist Critiques on The Gross Grass
Tennis Nerd Podcast - The State of Tennis/French Open Review and Wimbledon Sneak Peak!

1 Comment