By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, June 23, 2016
Seeking her first Grand Slam title, 2005 Wimbledon junior champion Agnieszka Radwanska has reached at least the semifinals in three of her last four Wimbledon appearances.
Photo credit: Christopher Levy
Reigning Wimbledon champion Serena Williams and Roland Garros champ Garbiñe Muguruza are the favorites to square off in their second straight Wimbledon final and third major final overall at The Championships.
Recent history suggests another contender could emerge to challenge for the Rosewater Dish.
Evert: Rivals See Serena As Vulnerable
Four different women have won the last four Grand Slam titles—Serena Williams (2015 Wimbledon), Flavia Pennetta (2015 US Open), Angelique Kerber (2016 Australian Open) and Muguruza (2016 Roland Garros)—so who are the top contenders poised to break through at The Championships?
Two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova sees a wide open field.
"It's really difficult to say because we know how the women's tennis is very open right now," Kvitova said. "I just feel that the lower-ranked players are getting better and better. So the level between the top and kind of these players are very small.
"And I just feel that each match what is playing it's about one, two points, the key points which sometimes it's kind of difficult to win it with the pressure and everything, with the expectation which we are really feeling from the outside and from ourselves, as well."
Serena is the favorite to claim her seventh Wimbledon title and 22nd career Grand Slam championship to equal Steffi Graf's Open Era record. If either of the top two seeds stumble, we believe one of these five women will be playing for the Rosewater Dish on the final Saturday.
No. 3 Agnieszka Radwanska
2016 Record:26-8
2015 Wimbledon Result: Semifinals
Best Wimbledon Result: 2012 Finalist
Ad-In: The 2005 Wimbledon junior champion loves the lawn: Radwanska has reached the final four in three of her last four Wimbledon appearances. Radwanska is so light on her feet if you covered the soles of her shoes in chalk, she might not even leave foot prints across the lawn. Sculptor's feel for the ball, sharp court sense, slick improvisational skills and her control redirecting pace and keeping the ball low on the lawn are all weapons.
Ad-Out: One of the shrewdest problem-solvers in the game hasn't been able to solve power players at SW19 bowing to Muguruza, Williams and Sabine Lisicki in recent years. Under pressure, Radwanska's sub 75 mph second-serve can be punished and though her two handed backhand is a weapon she lacks a clear kill shot of recent Wimbledon champions, can be pushed back behind the baseline and struggle to finish points against bigger hitters.
No. 10 Madison Keys
2016 Record: 22-7
2015 Wimbledon Result: Quarterfinals
Best Wimbledon Result: 2015 Quarterfinals
Ad-In: A gifted athlete and explosive all-court player, Keys' serve, forehand and power are all major weapons. She's one of the only women in the world who can match the Williams sisters on serve and is a dynamic grass-court player who has won both of her career titles on lawn, including Birmingham last week. Keys enters SW19 playing her most dynamic tennis of the season: She's won 13 of her last 15 matches reaching finals in two of her last three tournaments.
"Once the mental and emotional catch up (to her physical skills), which I see signs of right now, I think Madison's going to win some majors. I don't have any doubt in my mind," says Hall of Famer Chris Evert, who has known Keys since she was a 10-year-old junior.
Ad-Out: Patience and point-construction under pressure can be challenges. The 21-year-old American has a tendency try to end points prematurely, overhit and play low-percentage drives down the line under pressure. Keys can be vulnerable to players who change the pace and draw errors from the sometime self-indulgent shot-maker.
No. 11 Petra Kvitova
2016 Record:14-13
2015 Wimbledon Result: Third round
Best Wimbledon Result: Two-time champion (2011 and 2014)
Ad-In: An all-court player who possesses both jolting power and unsettling finesse, Kvitova has played her best Grand Slam tennis on grass. When she's on, the left-hander is an immaculate ball striker, powerful flat hitter who has reached at least the quarterfinals at SW19 in five of the last six years. Kvitova crushed Maria Sharapova in the 2011 final and demolished Genie Bouchard in the 2014 final.
Ad-Out: Erratic performances, nagging injuries, including a current thigh issue and wavering confidence can make Kvitova completely unpredictable, sometimes even within the course of a single match. In 12 tournaments this year, Kvitova has reached just one semifinal (on red clay in Stuttgart) and struggles to press the reset button when her flat strikes are not landing.
Kvitova was not exactly bubbling with confidence following her loss to Johanna Konta at Eastbourne this week, setting a modest goal for Wimbledon
"I'm not personally seeing chances (of good results at Wimbledon), unfortunately," Kvitova said. "I don't know. I will do my best. We will see. I will be very happy if I can show up in the second week."
No. 4 Angelique Kerber
2016 Record: 28-10
2015 Wimbledon Result: Third round
Best Wimbledon Result: 2012 Semifinalist
Ad-In: The ultra-consistent Kerber can play high percentage cross-court combinations, use her curling forehand to set up her flat backhand down the line and shows the quick feet and sharp counter-punching skills to carve up opponents. The Australian Open champion is a fierce fighter who should be well-rested and primed to go deep in the draw following her stunning French Open first-round exit.
Ad-Out: A slice second serve that can land shallow, she sometimes play too cautiously under pressure and since her run to the 2012 Wimbledon semifinals, the German has slumped trying to hurdle the second-week hump. Kerber has only survived the fourth round twice in her last 15 Grand Slam appearances (2014 Wimbledon quarterfinals and 2016 Australian Open title).
No. 5 Simona Halep
2016 Record:19-11
2015 Wimbledon Result: First round
Best Wimbledon Result: 2014 Semifinalist
Ad-In: One of the best movers in the game, Halep's sniper return, accurate two-handed backhand and ability to hug the baseline and take the ball early all serve her well on grass. Given her opening-round exit last year, she should be able to swing freely this year and is trying to play with more controlled aggression and dictate play under coach Darren Cahill.
Ad-Out : She's wilted under recent Grand Slam pressure: Halep has failed to survive the second round in three of her last five Grand Slam appearances. The former French Open finalist has been vulnerable in early rounds: Halep has lost five first-round matches in 10 tournaments this season. Though she's won titles on grass, clay and hard-courts, Halep has looked surprisingly skittish trying to close matches this season even calling Cahill out for coaching consultations when she's leading.