Petra Kvitova and Venus Williams produced the best womens match of the tournament as Petra came from a set down to beat Venus, 5-7 7-6(2) 7-5 in a magnificent contest.  You can read my full recap of the match HERE.  The line-up of third round matches from the top half of the womens draw is pretty sensational.  I’m not surprised, but a little disappointed that the match of the day (IMO), Sabine Lisicki v Ana Ivanovic will be on No.1 Court.  On the other hand, I am delighted that Alison Riske will be on Centre.  I am now off work for the rest of Wimbledon so can watch everything 😀

Poll Results: 56% correctly went for Kvitova to beat Venus and 73% correctly went for Wozniacki to beat Konjuh.

1. Sabine Lisicki v Ana Ivanovic

The stand-out womens match on Super Saturday features last year’s Wimbledon finalist, Sabine Lisicki up against the in-form, Ana Ivanovic.  Lisicki has had a miserable year, plagued with injuries and illnesses.  She hasn’t played great this year, but it is hardly surprising considering the minimal opportunities there have been to build any kind of momentum between tournaments.  Lisicki has successfully reached the third round of Wimbledon.  It is only the second time this year that she has won back-to-back matches at the same tournament and the first time she has won back-to-back matches in straight sets.  Sabine was a break down in the second set of her second round encounter with Karolina Pliskova, but pulled through, 6-3 7-5 to set up a tantalising third rounder with Ivanovic.

The Serb had a very dangerous looking second round opponent in Zheng Jie.  After a tight first set, Ivanovic ran away with the second set, posting a 6-4 6-0 victory.  Based on recent form and the H2H, (Ana comprehensively defeated Sabine in Stuttgart, 6-1 6-3 earlier this year) there is a clear favourite; However Sabine and Wimbledon are a match made in heaven.  I believe as the underdog, Lisicki will be in a position that she always seem to thrive in.  I won’t be surprised if Ana wins this in straights, but I also won’t be surprised if Sabine pulls out her best performance of the year.  One thing for sure, this is a MUST WATCH match.  I’ve taken a few risks at this tournament and am maintaining that stance with my call on this match…

Prediction: Lisicki d. Ivanovic in 3 sets

2. Maria Sharapova v Alison Riske

Alison Riske has had a fabulous tournament, taking out two very dangerous players in Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (4-6 7-5 6-1 in R1) and Camila Giorgi (7-5 6-2 in R2).  Alison now gets a shot at Maria Sharapova in the third round.  Maria hasn’t lost more than two games in a set with straight sets victories over Sam Murray and Timea Bacsinszky.  In my original draw, I had Giorgi to take out Sharapova.  After a gruelling clay court season, I had the feeling Maria would not be at 100% for the grass, particularly having played no warm-up matches.  She has not been tested in her first two matches and one thing for sure, Alison will throw the kitchen sink at her.  I’ve harped on already the last two weeks but I love Alison’s attitude on court, which should be a glowing example to rising juniors.  If Riske maintains a balance between aggression and consistency, there is no doubt she has a shot against Maria.

Prediction: Riske d. Sharapova in 3 sets

3. Andrea Petkovic v Eugenie Bouchard

A rematch of the Charleston semi-final from earlier this year will see Andrea Petkovic and Eugenie Bouchard meet in the third round of Wimbledon with the winner potentially facing Serena Williams in the fourth round.  Bouchard showed great fight in her first round match, winning a very tight two setter with Daniela Hantuchova.  Daniela served for the first set in that match at 5-3.  In the second round, Genie overcame Silvia Soler-Espinosa, 7-5 6-1.  Bouchard has become a player you can rely on at the Slams.  She lost that semi-final to Petko at Charleston, but on grass and at Grand Slam level, Genie definitely will have the edge.  Petkovic has done marvellously well to make the third round on her least favourite surface, but she looked to have picked up an injury in her second round win over Irina-Camelia Begu.  Genie for the win…

Prediction: Bouchard d. Petkovic in 2 sets

4. Serena Williams v Alize Cornet

Serena Williams will be GUNNING for revenge on Saturday as she takes on Alize Cornet in the third round.  Serena lost to the Frenchwoman earlier this year, 6-4 6-4 in Dubai.  It was a shock loss although she would have met Venus Williams in the final so there was some debate as to whether she was going flat out in that semi-final.  Cornet though, has become a really tough competitor on tour.  She was pushed to three dramatic sets in the first two rounds as she continues to improve her three set record in 2014, which now stands at 13-7.  In the first round, she beat Anna Schmiedlova, 4-6 6-4 6-2 and in the second round she defeated, Petra Cetkovska, 6-4 5-7 6-3.  You can bet your bottom dollar that Alize will put in a great performance (I mean that in so many ways), but Serena, who hasn’t dropped more than two games in a set so far this week, will not allow herself to lose this match.  By the way, Alize is amazing (see below).

Prediction: Serena d. Cornet in 2 sets

WTA Wimbledon 3rd Round Predictions

Angelique Kerber d. Kirsten Flipkens in 2 tight sets

Simona Halep d. Belinda Bencic in 2 tight sets

Vera Zvonareva d. Zarina Diyas in 3 sets

Madison Keys d. Yaroslava Shvedova in 3 sets