By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday July 1, 2024

 

Now that Aryna Sabalenka is out, who stands to benefit in the lower half of the women's singles draw at Wimbledon?

Day 1 of Wimbledon isn’t even over yet and already the lower half of the women’s singles draw is looking wide open.

Three key withdrawals – No.22-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova, No.16-seeded Victoria Azarenka and No.3-seeded Aryna Sabalenka – rocked the grounds on Monday, and left us wondering: how is the bottom half going to play out?



Here are five thoughts on who might stand to benefit from the loss of pre-tournament favorite Sabalenka, as well as stellar veterans Azarenka and Alexandrova.

 Can you say Coco? 

The lower half is – technically – Gauff’s half. Seeded in the top two at a major for the first time, the American plays Wimbledon for the first time as a Grand Slam champion.

Gauff has never been beyond the fourth round at Wimbledon – a surprise given that she reached that far on her main draw debut in 2019 as a 15-year-old – but she’s far superior in so many ways to that version of herself.

There are no seeds that stand between Gauff and the second week, and if the seeds hold Gauff could end up facing 19th-seeded Emma Navarro in the fourth round, and either seventh-seeded Jasmine Paolini or 12th-seeded Madison Keys in the quarters.

As far as Grand Slam draws go, that’s a very nice one for Gauff.

She kicked off her bid for a career-best performance on Monday at SW19 with a 6-1, 6-2 win over compatriot Caroline Dolehide.

Keys to Victory?

All eyes will certainly be on two-time quarterfinalist Madison Keys in the lower half as well. The veteran American has reached the second week four times at SW19, and she’s always a threat to go deep at the majors. The Florida native has reached the round of 16 19 different times at the majors, and gone on to reach the quarterfinals another ten. Pretty stellar, given that she’s only made 44 appearances at the majors.

Here is what Keys had to say about the fact that seven different women have won the last seven Wimbledon singles titles.

"I think there's definitely a lot of opportunity. You just kind of have to try to keep your head down and get through round and round and really just focus on what's in front of you. I think if you're able to do that, then all of a sudden you look up, and you can be in the second week, and you can really be contending for the title."

Keys owns a 3-2 edge against Gauff, and has won their only previous grass-court meeting.

Emma’s got a window

2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu benefitted from Alexandrova’s withdrawal today, taking out Mexico’s Renata Zarazua on Centre Court, 7-6(0), 6-3. The 21-year-old World No.135 is currently tucked into a very manageable section of the draw, with a second-round clash with Elise Mertens looming (tricky but doable).

After that, ninth-seeded Maria Sakkari could be next. With the crowd backing her, it could be time for Raducanu to stage another Cinderella run at a Slam. Making matters easier is the fact that Zheng Qinwen, the No.8 seed and a potential quarterfinal opponent for the Brit, has already lost.

Kasatkina? Why not?

In this wide open section, we have to consider those fringe players who normally don’t gain mention among the favorites. Two names – Daria Kasatkina and Mirra Andreeva – come to mind. 14th-seeded Kasatkina is already through round one. She’s a former Wimbledon quarterfinalist that has experience on grass and at the Slams.

On the flip side, we saw surging Mirra Andreeva, the No.24 seed fall to fellow teen Brenda Fruhvirtova on Day 1. Could 17-year-old Fruhvirtova be the next teen to soar at the Slams?

Paolini the in-form player

Perhaps we should pay attention to No.7-seeded Jasmine Paolini. The Italian is fresh off her maiden Grand Slam final in Paris, and just won her first Wimbledon main draw match on Day 1, defeating Sara Sorribes Tormo, 7-5, 6-3. There’s also Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, the No.18 seed, as well as Naomi Osaka, who defeated Diane Parry on Day 1.

Gauff certainly anchors the lower half, but if she can’t find her way through, then the chaos will come fast and furious at Wimbledon.

Stay tuned….