2008 Wimbledon – Nick’s Picks – Women’s Singles Round 2
Nick’s Picks will have complete coverage of Wimbledon 2008, and we are teaming with Tennis Week and The Independent Newspaper in London to provide in-depth analysis throughout the tournament! Also, be sure to listen for Nick on Radio Wimbledon each day at 4pm EST!
Nicole Vaidisova (CZE) vs. Samantha Stosur (AUS)
Vaidiosva picked up a much needed victory in the first round, as she looks to get back on track. It goes without saying that 2008 has not been her best year, and I think a good showing here could help turn things around. She is working with an excellent coach in David Felgate, and I have full confidence that she will get everything back together.
Stosur is playing in her sixth Wimbledon, and is looking to get past the second round for the first time. Not to long ago (January 2007), she was ranked in the top 30 and she just reached the semis at Eastbourne last week.
Match-Up:
Vaidisova is 5-0 against Stosur including a win over her on grass last year at Eastbourne. Despite that, Stosur causes more problems for Vaidisova on the grass then she would on any other surface. She has an offensive serve and is not afraid to follow it in to the net at any given moment. She also returns the serve really well, and can slice with the best of them. Vaidisova is going to have to be on top of her game to win this match. She will need her big serve, killer forehand, and excellent two-handed backhand to compete. She cannot go into a “movement slump” where she gives up on balls before they are hit. Hopefully that first round victory will instill some much needed confidence in her game, and she will come out firing in this one.
Nick’s Pick – Vaidisova in 3 sets
Ana Ivanovic (SRB) vs. Nathalie Dechy (FRA)
Ivanovic reached the semis here last year, but bigger and better things are expected out of her in 2008. She is coming off of her first career Grand Slam title and is the newly anointed #1 player in the world. All eyes are going to be on her throughout the tournament, and she got off to a great start with a 6-1, 6-2 victory in the first round.
Dechy is a 14-year tour veteran and has been to the fourth round at Wimbledon twice (1999 and 2005). She checks in at #97 in the world, but back in 2006 she was ranked #11 in the world. She is also an excellent doubles player, as she was ranked in the top 10 just last year.
Match-Up:
Dechy is a very crafty veteran, who knows how to win on the grass. She is solid from both sides, and knows how to use the whole court to her advantage. However, she lacks a big weapon to keep Ivanovic on the defensive. I look for Ivanovic to try to overpower Dechy with big, booming groundstrokes and a great return of serve. Dechy is going to have to keep Ivanovic on the move throughout this match, because that is the one area where she is a little vulnerable. If Ivanovic has time to set up and hit, this match could be over quickly.
Nick’s Pick – Ivanovic in 2 sets
Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) vs. Alisa Kleybanova (RUS)
Hantuchova has been battling through injuries the entire year, and because of that she has only played 19 matches (and hadn’t played since early April). She made a splash here back in 2002 as a 19-year old reaching the quarterfinals. She has yet to get back there, but did reach the fourth round the last two years.
Kleybanova may not be a household name, but she is a talented girl. She comes in ranked #42 in the world (which is her career high), and is playing in her first career Wimbledon. She spent some time at the Academy in the past and likes the faster surfaces.
Match-Up:
Kleybanova is a big girl, and she hits like one! She has excellent groundstrokes from both sides and has a good serve. Her biggest weakness is movement, and Hantuchova will look to exploit her here. Hantuchova, like her opponent, also spent time at the Academy during her teenage years. Hantuchova is fairly consistent on the grass, and what you see is normally what you’ll get. She is not overpowering, but has an above average serve to go along with flat consistent groundstrokes and passable volleys. Her biggest weapon is that she doesn’t have a glaring weakness to exploit, and she is capable of methodically picking opponents apart. Kleybanova will hit her share of winners, but when the dust settles Hantuchova will be the winner.
Nick’s Pick – Hantuchova in 3 sets
Nadia Petrova (RUS) vs. Mara Santangelo (ITA)
Petrova is a former quarterfinalist here (2005), and last year she reached the fourth round. She just reached the finals at Eastbourne, a grass court tournament, last week and lost to Agnieszka Radwanska in three tough sets. She hasn’t had the best 2008, as she is only 12-12 and is ranked #18 in the world.
Santangelo has been battling a troublesome left-foot injury all year long, and had only played three WTA matches coming into Wimbledon. Because of her injury, her ranking has fallen from #35 (where she began 2008) to her current position of #233. Her best results at Wimbledon came in 2007, where she reached the third round.
Match-Up:
When Petrova’s serve is working she can be a dangerous opponent, as she can back it up with an offensive ground game and she’s not afraid to come in when she’s got you on the ropes. Her movement is attackable, if you can manage to stay off the defensive, which is why her serve is so important to her. If she can make a lot of first serves and start the points on offense she is tough to control. Grass is a good surface for Santangelo, as she has a big serve and hits very flat from the ground. She will also come in and is an above average volleyer. Her movement is well below par, but standing a shade over 6 feet, she is very long and reaches more balls than one would expect. Petrova has renewed confidence from her run last week, and Santangelo is still trying to find her rhythm. If Petrova keeps a decent first serve percentage, it will be tough for Santangelo to hang with her at this point in her recovery.
Nick’s Pick – Petrova in 3 sets
