The prestigious Wimbledon Championships at the All England Club continues this week as Jasmine Paolini faces Emma Navarro while Donna Vekic goes up against Lulu Sun. Damien Kayat previews.
2024 WTA Tour – Grand Slam Tennis
Wimbledon Championships
All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
Selected Quarter-finals – 9 July
Jasmine Paolini 29/20 | Emma Navarro 52/100
The women’s draw has been an absolute bloodbath this year, with only two of the top ten players in the world remaining. And Jasmine Paolini is surprisingly one of them.
I have underestimated the nuggety Italian this fortnight. I was quick to dismiss her in the lead-up to these championships, pointing to the fact that she was eliminated in the first round here in her last three visits.
In fact, Paolini had only won four Grand Slam matches in 16 events coming into this season. But the Italian has hit the stratosphere this season, reaching the fourth round at the Aussie Open before her sensational runner-up finish in Paris (she also won that WTA 1000 title in Dubai).
She improved to 12-2 in Grand Slam matches this season after her heartbreaking victory over Madison Keys. Keys led 5-2 in the third before a thigh issue started to rear its ugly head.
The tearful American ultimately had to call it quits at 5-5 in the third. So, Paolini has benefitted from a little good fortune but she won her first three matches in straight sets.
Emma Navarro has looked absolutely incredible this fortnight, dropping just one set en route to her maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal. And was in a merciless mood against Coco Gauff, taking just one hour and 14 minutes to beat her compatriot in straight sets.
Gauff just couldn’t handle Navarro’s variety. Navarro’s sliced backhand forced Gauff into plenty of errors (especially on that forehand wing). She won nine out of nine points in the forecourt in a flawless display of net coverage.
This is turning into quite the year for billionaire heiress Navarro. The 2021 NCAA singles champion has now won 33 matches this season (more than double last year).
She won her first title in Hobart and she has just retained amazing consistency since then. She showed some grass-court potential with a semi-final run at the Bad Homburg Open.
That victory over Gauff was her second win against a No.2 ranked player this season (she took down Sabalenka at Indian Wells). I think you can certainly draw a parallel between Navarro and Tommy Paul.
Both are compact players with effective variation from the baseline. And both enjoy coming to the net to end points efficiently.
The Verdict: Navarro to win in straight sets 23/20
Navarro leads the head-to-head 3-0, beating the Italian twice this season. And I think this trend should continue here. Navarro just looks really complete on this surface.
Her touch at the net has been incredible and I think she should avenge Keys’ unfortunate demise. Navarro is a brilliant counterpuncher and I think she will diffuse Paolini’s brand of all-out aggression.
Donna Vekic 32/100 | Lulu Sun 23/10
This quarterfinal clash really epitomizes the insanity of this year’s draw. Donna Vekic had to navigate three rain interruptions in her three-set triumph over Paula Badosa, ultimately collapsing to the ground after Badosa sprayed a wild forehand to hand Vekic the match.
This will be the Croatian’s third Grand Slam quarter-final appearance (the previous coming at the 2019 US Open and last year’s Aussie Open).
I am actually quite surprised that it has taken her this long to reach the quarters in this event. Vekic has proven to be a highly capable grass-court player, winning the 2017 Nottingham title and reaching a further four grass-court finals throughout her career.
She came into this year’s championships fresh off a runner-up finish at the Bad Homburg Open. She really has the prototypical grass-court game. She serves big and likes to take control of points, using her flat forehand to penetrate the court as quickly as possible.
Her backhand side is slightly weaker and can be exposed. But she seems to have some added grit this year, exemplified by yesterday’s Point of the Day, where she won an incredible 27-shot rally against Badosa.
I have to admit, I didn’t even know who Lulu Sun was a week ago. But the 23-year-old New Zealander has taken the tournament by storm, becoming only the second woman from New Zealand to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final (following Belinda Cordwell at the 1989 Aussie Open).
The World No.123 shocked the world by defeating Brit darling Emma Radacanu, smashing an astonishing 52 winners to Radacanu’s measly 19. That juggernaut of a forehand did the lion’s share of the damage, accumulating 25 winners in a truly awe-inspiring display of hitting.
The lefty’s sheer brutality makes her a dangerous opponent for anyone. For the record, Emma Radacanu stated in a post-match press conference that she hadn’t really trained or played against a lefty.
Why not? Seems like a gigantic oversight going into a Wimbledon 4th round clash against a left-handed player. But I digress. Sun is playing some powerhouse tennis at present and Vekic will need to be mentally dialled-in from the start.
The Verdict: Sun to win in three sets 6/1
This will be their first career meeting. This is an extremely tough one to call. Vekic clearly has more pedigree and makes a logical favourite. Both of these players will look to take the initiative but I just have a feeling that the lefty has one more surprise left in her.
I just think backing Sun is more in keeping with how the women’s draw has unfolded. She can use her awkward lefty serve to attack the Vekic backhand.
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