The Wimbledon Women’s Draw: Serena Williams Set To Face Old Enemies - UBITENNIS
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The Wimbledon Women’s Draw: Serena Williams Set To Face Old Enemies

By Adam Addicott
3 Min Read

Serena Williams’ task of winning her 22nd grand slam title at Wimbledon include encounters with players who has caused her heartbreak in the past.

The world No.1 will start her grass-court campaign on Tuesday against a qualifier. Williams has one of the best records on the tour against qualifiers and lucky losers with a win-loss of 51-3 (two of those losses were due to retirements). After the first round she could play Christina McHale and then s-Hertogenbosch finalist Kristina Mladenovic. It isn’t until the fourth round where she is projected to face her old rivals. In the last sixteen, she could play Svetlana Kuznetsova, who she lost in straight sets to at this year’s Miami Open. The quarter-finals could be to be Williams’ opportunity to get revenge on Roberta Vinci, who defeated his in the semifinals at the US Open. On the other hand, given Vinci’s recent disappointments on the tour, she may not even reach this stage. Then, according to the seedings, she could play Agnieszka Radwanska and Garbine Muguruza if she makes it to the final.

Muguruza is drawn in the same half as Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber. The French Open champion will start against Italy’s Camila Giorgi in what could be a tough opening test. She has lost to the Italian before, but won their most recent encounter in straight sets (French Open 2015). Further in the draw, Muguruza is expected to play 28th seed Lucie Safarova in the third round followed by either Elina Svitolina (17) or Sam Stosur (14). The world No.2 is bidding to become the first Spanish female champion at SW19 since Conchita Martinez in 1994.

Drawn in the same half as Williams, Radwanska will start against Ukraine’s Kateryna Kozlova in what should be a straightforward opening round match. In her section, the third seed faces the prospect of meetings with Caroline Garcia in the third round followed by either 16th Johanna Konta or 19th seed Dominika Cibulkova. Unseeded Eugenie Bouchard is also in Radwanska’s section and has the potential to be a shock fourth round opponent.

Some of the most notable opening matches include Swiss seventh seed Belinda Bencic against former Wimbledon semifinalist Tsvetana Pironkova, Angelique Kerber against British wildcard Laura Robson and Simona Halep’s meeting with Anna Karolina Schmiedlova.

The full draw

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