For the first time since 2011, Maria Sharapova is into the last eight at Wimbledon. A longer break since Roland Garros and a neat draw have helped Maria progress through her first four rounds without the loss of any sets. Sharapova was tested in her fourth round match against Zarina Diyas but ultimately prevailed, 6-4 6-4. Diyas had points for a double break in the second set but was unable to take advantage of her opportunities. Sharapova’s route through the draw has passed by Johanna Konta, Richel Hogenkamp, Irina-Camelia Begu and Diyas… that’s a nice draw.
Sharapova will play the American, CoCo Vandeweghe in the quarters who has broken new ground at a Grand Slam this fortnight. Vandeweghe had only once made it to the third round of a Slam, achieving that feat at the Australian Open earlier this year. She’s had a brilliant fortnight, defeating Karolina Pliskova, Sam Stosur and Lucie Safarova… even more impressively is that she’s beaten them all in straight sets. Against Safarova, Vandeweghe won, 7-6(1) 7-6(4), playing the better tennis in the two tiebreaks. Lucie served for the first set at *5-4 but played a poor game to get broken. This seemed to rejuvenate CoCo who gave off a lot of positive body language and cruised through the first set tiebreak.
Lucie had her chances to get the break in the second set but failed to convert; it reminded me of her match against Dominika Cibulkova at Eastbourne where she just didn’t take her chances. CoCo lost her break at 4-4 with a passive game, but she held her nerve to get it into the tiebreak where some big serving saw her across the finish line. Of course, i’m sad for Lucie but she’s had such a great month. Also, a part of me had accepted her losing in her first round against Alison Riske (where she was on the brink of defeat) so every round after that felt like a bonus. If she had reached the quarters I would have fancied her over Maria, but that’s not how it worked out… CoCo was fully deserving of her win.
This will be a first career match-up between Vandeweghe and Sharapova. CoCo has the weapons to make this a very awkward match for Maria and she has a pretty feisty atttitude that should serve her in good stead for playing Maria at this stage of a Slam. Her serve will win her many free points and her movement has definitely improved although it remains a weakness. Based on experience i’d go for Maria but i’m expecting a competitive match.
Prediction: Sharapova d. Vandeweghe in 2 very tight sets
Moo's Tennis Blog 
Coco has to be the ‘surprise packet’ in this tournament,when she is ‘on’ she is good,she will need to keep her UFE in check against Maria.I feel the experience of Maria,especially at this level will be to strong.Should be a fun match.Maria in straight sets
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I like Coco but think this will be an easy match for Sharapova, who will disrupt the America’s serving rhythm by her slow in between point habits.
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Coco’s run is over now…Russian to march ahead only to be beaten in semis
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Everyone said Lucie would win in two sets. What is now? Frankly speaking, this match is too early to tell. Maria is not very sharp in this tournament.
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Maria isn’t playing sick this time, so if Coco is going to win this, it will have to be in 3 sets. She will have to play a blinder. It is possible, because she does have some basic variety, but it will be akin to putting a faulty jack back in it’s box right until the very final ball is played. I feel Maria is due some kind of Slam reprieve by winning something this year. Wimbledon or USopen, who knows. Coco seems to have raised her game for this tournament too.
Whomever wins the mind game will take this and you know Sharapova has a head start there.
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Sharapova in straight sets.
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If Sharapova plays like how she play Diyas, Coco will win. Maria has been playing terrible and advanced from easy draw. These 3 grand slams they stick it to Serena . Why Venus & Serena can’t get an easy draw like everybody else.
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Somewhere around 3years ago, I heard of the name Vanderweghe during a WTA tournament, she had arrived on the scene surprisingly, serving notice with intent. I fell in Love with the fluid service, easy-power motion and really thought then that she had a real future ahead of hear. I also thought then that she had a very sweet-sounding marketable name that one would soon hear ringing in places soon. Soon afterwards, her game deteriorated, as it was founded on high-risk short-making bedded in a confetti of errors. Still, I always believed……maybe because I thought the name Coco was a signal in itself, one indicative of danger. By the 2nd round of wimbledon, having had a chance to see Coco play, I suddenly became confident that her time for manifestation had arrived. Coco’s game is typically tailored for the grass courts and I feel confident that this free-spirited talented babe is still on an ongoing mission. One thing is clear; that you will never be able to back Coco from just trying to reason it out. After all, how does she expect to beat Maria with that error-stricken game of hers? Faith tells me that it will just happen somehowly.
when any player enters the second week of a slam without dropping a set, then i really do not care about the calibre of players that they have beaten. I just know that I have to quickly responded to the alarm buzzing inside of me to take the seriously. Do you think that I would have spent time doing this type-up for nothing? Welcome on board, Ms Vanderweghe!!!!!!
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I agree. Diyas did not hit deep enough in the second set otherwise she should have won. As for Coco, she is a natural ball striker. She will definitely give Maria a run in this match. Frankly speaking, Maria has an easy draw and she has not been tested so far. I don’t think she can win this tournament and I actually smell a potential upset in this match with Coco.
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Your in love with coco. Baking soda I got baking soda
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We love our money more than we love Coco. When everyone see “Sharapova”…”Kvitova”…..they this these girls must win. Mind you, they are not Serena. Even Serena can lose in her bad day in office. Sharapova is not playing at her best at this stage. Frankly speaking, this match depends on Coco’s racquet more than anything else.
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Just having my lunch break, after which I’m going to wager on her.
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Again, Maria is not very sharp in R16 especially in the second set. Coco is hard to tell which version will show up in the next match. I guess she is in form and grass suits her better than any surface. Anything can happen in this match. Maria is not 100% can win in two or win it all.
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Davenport’s commentary is so biased, she doesnt want Coco to win.
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As I mentioned earlier, Coco is a crazy horse. It will play to three sets.
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