Centre Court
Jannik Sinner (1) vs Daniil Medvedev (5)
Sinner was in tremendous form to beat the big-serving Ben Shelton in the fourth-round. The Italian still looks like the player to beat at this year’s tournament and it will take something special to stop him. Medvedev will be fresh heading into this match. In his last match, his opponent Grigor Dimitrov had to retire in the first set due to a knee injury. Coming into this match, the Italian has certainly had Medvdev’s number in the recent meetings.
They have played each other 11 times. Medvedev won the first 6 but it was Sinner who’s been the victor in their last five of their encounters. Although all of their matches have been played on hard, which is Medvedev’s best surface by far, I don’t think grass will make much difference to the outcome of this match. As good as Medvdev’s serve is on the grass, Sinner is just a better grass-court player. The Italian’s return and movement on the surface is second to none and Medvedev will have to play his best match of the tournament to win this. I’m predicting Sinner to win this match in 4 tight sets.
Predictions – Sinner to win in 4 sets
Jasmine Paolini (7) vs Emma Navarro (19)
Two players I didn’t expect to reach the women’s quarter-finals were Jasmine Paolini and Emma Navarro. Both players have had very little grass-court experience prior to this tournament. In Paolini’s two previous appearances at the All England Club, she lost in the first-round. It was a similar story to Navarro who failed to make it on her debut appearance last year. In the fourth-round, Paolini was 2-5 down in the final set to Madison Keys but after the American suffered a thigh issue and couldn’t push off she had to retire. Although Keys should have won this match, it doesn’t take anything away from how well Paolini has been playing this tournament.
However, Navarro has been playing some of the most impressive tennis I’ve seen so far in this tournament. During these Championships the American has made light work of both Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff for the combined loss of just 12 games. This tells me she is in superb form. Paolini has played well but just not at the level Navarro has. A straight sets win for Navarro is the only result I can see.
Prediction – Navarro to win in 2 sets
Court 1
Donna Vekic vs Lulu Sun
The unseeded versus the qualifier. Who will come out on top? Before this tournament, very few people would have heard of Lulu Sun. The New Zealander saved a match point in the qualifying round before coming through to reach her second major main draw. A pretty impressive result. The 23-year-old opened her Women’s campaign with a stunning win over Australian Open finalist and world number 8, Qinwen Zheng before defeating home favorite Emma Raducanu in front of a British crowd on Centre Court.
Sun played spectacularly well and did not allow Raducanu any sort of foothold in the match. It’s surprising Vekic has never made the quarter-final of Wimbledon before. The former world number 19 is a great grass-court player. Back in 2013, a 16-year-old Vekic reached the final of the grass-court tournament in Birmingham before lifting her first title on the surface in Nottingham in 2017.
Injuries and lack of consistency have prevented the Croat from reaching her potential but her run to this year’s quarter-finals has been mighty impressive. Wins over X. Wang, E. Andreeva, Yastremska and Badosa and show that she is in form. Sun will go into this match with nothing to lose and if she plays like she did against Raducanu she could win. However, Vekic’s previous quarter-final experiences at majors and better all-round game will help her come through this match.
Predictions – Vekic in to win in 3 sets
Carlos Alcaraz (3) vs Tommy Paul (12)
Alcaraz has not looked great this tournament. After his comeback win against Tiafoe in the third-round, Alcaraz struggled to find a way through Ugo Humbert. The Spaniard will have to improve if he is to come through Tommy Paul. Paul will be full of confidence heading into this match. He entered Wimbledon coming off the biggest title win of his at the ATP 500 tournament in Queens. The American has also recorded two wins over Alcaraz so he will have the confidence that he can win this match. Alcaraz knows he needs to recapture the form which took him to the Wimbledon title last year and I think this match could be where he does just that. By no means will this be easy. Paul has an
all-round grass-court game and will pressure the Spaniard into making errors. However, Alcaraz always seems to bring his best when he needs it most. Alcaraz’s experience and variety will help him cross the finish line today.
Prediction – Alcaraz to win in 4 sets
