We are now getting to the business end of this year’s Championships. Middle Sunday delivered some cracking fourth-round matches. Let’s now turn our attention to the second day of fourth-round matches.
Centre Court
Elena Rybakina (4) vs Anna Kalinskaya (17)
First on centre sees the 2021 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina take on world number 17 Anna Kalinskaya. Coming into the third-round, Rybakina had looked pretty average in her first two matches. However, the Kazakh then produced the performance in the tournament so far against Carolina Wozniacki. Rybakina served impeccably, taking apart Wozniacki’s game without any trouble. If Rybakina plays this kind of tennis, there is nobody in the draw who can beat her. Kalinskaya is in form and hasn’t dropped a set all tournament. She had a good win over Samsonova in the third-round but will have to play the match of her life if she is to beat Rybakina. The only way I can see Kalinskaya winning this match is if Rybakina’s serve goes wayward. Otherwise, I only see a straight sets win for the Kazakh.
Predictions – Rybakina to win in 2 sets
Alexander Zverev (4) vs Taylor Fritz (13)
Zverev in second on centre and takes on Taylor Fritz. Zverev continued his straight sets winning streak having won all his matches so far this tournament without dropping a set. You may say this is unsurprising for someone of his calibre but Zverev has historically struggled to get through the opening rounds of a major without dropping sets. This is a good sign for the German. Fritz has always excelled on the grass and has 3 grass-court titles to his name. In any other year, I would have given Fritz a big chance to win this match given his serving abilities and all-round solid game.
However, Zverev has looked like a different player this year. Gone are the days where Zverev loses matches he should win. The only players who have beaten him at major level this year are Medvedev and Alcaraz. He came agonisingly close to reaching the Australian Open final and narrowly lost the title at the French. By no means will this match be easy but Zverev will reach his fourth consecutive major quarter-final.
Prediction – Zverev to win in 4 sets
Novak Djokovic (2) vs Holger Rune (15)
The centre court crowd are in for a treat with the final match on centre, Djokovic vs Rune. Novak Djokovic faces the biggest test of his tournament so far against the young, talented Holger Rune. Djokovic hasn’t found his best tennis so far but he hasn’t needed to. He’s dropped a couple sets here and there but hasn’t looked particularly rattled by that. It’s hard to tell whether he’s protecting his knee or is still trying to find his form. Either way, Djokovic is going to have to step up in this match. Holger Rune’s form coming into Wimbledon has been up and down. The former world number 4 has struggled to find consistency and has made only one final at the beginning of the year. What we do know is that Rune usually plays his best tennis on the biggest stages.
He pushed French Open finalist Zverev in the fourth-round in Paris and narrowly lost to Sinner in Monte-Carlo. Rune did struggle in his last-round match, against big-serving Quentin Halys. He found himself two-sets to love down but adapted his game and found a way to win. That is Rune’s biggest asset and something which very few players can do. He also knows how to beat Djokovic and has two wins over the Serb. Djokovic will have to be at his best but I’m not sure if he’s going to be able to produce it this early in his comeback from injury. I genuinely think Rune has a chance to win this match.
Predictions – Rune to win in 5 sets
Court 1
Jelena Ostapenko (13) vs Yulia Putintseva
A relaxed, free-hitting Ostapenko is a dangerous Ostapenko. The Latvian has only dropped ten games this tournament in three-matches. Pretty impressive. Putintseva will no doubt be her toughest test yet. The Kazakh scored the biggest win of her career, defeating Iga Swiatek in the third-round and ending her 21-match winning streak. Putintseva will be full of confidence heading into this match. If Putintseva can beat Swiatek, then there’s no reason why she can’t beat Ostapenko too. By no means will it be easy to replicate. I do think this match is on Ostapenko’s racquet and if she continues her current form, it’s going to have to take a special performance to beat her.
Prediction – Ostapenko to win in 2 sets
Danielle Collins (11) vs Babora Krejcikova (31)
Collins has looked very impressive this tournament. She’s beaten the likes of Clara Tuason and Beatriz Haddad Maia to reach the fourth-round for the very first-time. The American, who is playing her last year on tour, has arguably been playing some of her best tennis of her career. Her attacking game style works wonders on the grass and Krejcikova will need to play better than she has so far this tournament to win this match.
The Czech has been very inconsistent in recent months and struggled in her first-round match against Kudermetova. Having said this, Krejcikova is a singles and doubles major champion. Not many players can say this. When her free-flowing game is on, it’s a beauty to watch. Krejcikova does have the game to beat Collins but in this current form, I just don’t see it happening.
Prediction – Collins to win in 3 sets
