“It’s going to be special…” @Petra_Kvitova gets set to defend her #Wimbledon title: http://t.co/BpajxHn5Fp pic.twitter.com/oTRt2BdS9e

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 28, 2015

Predicted Winners in BOLD

[2] Petra Kvitova (CZE) vs Kiki Bertens (NED) – Kvitova seems to be the only players experts are giving a chance to upset Serena Williams this year.  The defending champion should advance.

[3] Simona Halep (ROU) vs Jana Cepelova (SVK) – Halep has lower expectations than at Roland Garros and a surface that might make holding serve a bit easier.  Perhaps she will play deep into this draw.

[8] Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) v [Q] Sachia Vickery (USA)

[5] Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) v Saisai Zheng (CHN)

Evgeniya Rodina (RUS) v [WC] Laura Robson (GBR) – Is Robson healthy?  If so, she could very well win this match.

[12] Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) vs [Q] Ying-Ying Duan (CHN) – Bouchard playing a match tough qualifier could be the recipie for an upset.  Having said that, I think she will stick around for at least a few rounds.

[13] Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) v Lucie Hradecka (CZE) – She can’t let her littel sister go further than she does.

[18] Sabine Lisicki (GER) vs Jarmila Gajdosova (AUS) – Her serve makes her a contender.

[10] Angelique Kerber (GER) vs Carina Witthoeft (GER) – Grass court form dictates Kerber do reasonably well here.

[26] Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) v [Q] Laura Siegemund (GER) – Kuzy is having a mild career resurgence.

Lara Arruabarrena (ESP) v Pauline Parmentier (FRA)

Andreea Mitu (ROU) v [Q] Olga Govortsova (BLR) – Olga should be match tough from qualifying.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) v Mona Barthel (GER)

Karin Knapp (ITA) v Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) – Knapp is a tough out in most draws.

Kristyna Pliskova (CZE) v Tereza Smitkova (CZE) – The Battle for the Czech Republic

Katerina Siniakova (CZE) v Denisa Allertova (CZE) – Another Battle for the Czech Republic (can someone explain Czech patronimics?)

[17] Elina Svitolina (UKR) v Misaki Doi (JPN)

Johanna Larsson (SWE) v Christina McHale (USA) – McHale comepetes so well that I expect her to win a few rounds at least.

Magda Linette (POL) v Kurumi Nara (JPN)

Monica Puig (PUR) v Monica Niculescu (ROU) – I like Puig, but whenever I pick her she loses.

 

Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (CRO) v Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) – Veteran power

Sesil Karatantcheva (BUL) v Silvia Soler-Espinosa (ESP)

Tatjana Maria (GER) v Bojana Jovanovski (SRB)

Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) v [Q] Elizaveta Kulichkova (RUS)

[20] Garbine Muguruza (ESP) v Varvara Lepchenko (USA) – Muguruza is my favorite player on the WTA Tour, but she seems to still be learning grass court tennis.

[31] Camila Giorgi (ITA) v Teliana Pereira (BRA)

Casey Dellacqua (AUS) v [Q] Tamira Paszek (AUT)

[28] Jelena Jankovic (SRB) v Elena Vesnina (RUS) – JJ is not one of my favorites so take that into account on this pick.

Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) v Klara Koukalova (CZE)

[21] Madison Keys (USA) v Stefanie Voegele (SUI)

[15] Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) v Julia Goerges (GER) – The German is capable of pulling an upset here.

[25] Alizé Cornet (FRA) v Ana Konjuh (CRO) – Cornet beat Serena last year and is a crafty player.