Tuesday at the 2009 Wimbledon Championships will showcase the final eight in the women’s competition.
The top four seeds Dinara Safina, Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Elena Dementieva have reached the quarterfinals.
Dinara Safina (RUS) [1] vs Sabine Lisicki (GER)
If you are ever on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, it might be handy to know that Dinara Safina was the first player to win a match underneath Wimbledon’s Centre Court roof. While historical in its own right, Safina would much rather be known as a Grand Slam champion.
Hopefully, the first match played under the new roof isn’t prescient of things to come. Not many players left in the draw are as inconsistent as Mauresmo and Safina, and by the end of the three set match on Monday, it came down to who was playing with the least amount of nerves. Safina lived to fight another day, but she could be set for her toughest match of the tournament against Sabine Lisicki.
The Bollettieri protege is playing spectacular tennis and stunned Top 10 player Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets to reach the quarters. Safina must play aggressively from the opening point of this match, stay focused, and show us the skills that led her to the number one ranking if she hopes to keep her Grand Slam dreams alive.
Prediction: Sabine Lisicki in two sets
Victoria Azarenka (BLR) [8] vs Serena Williams (USA) [2]
This is one clash of the titans on Centre Court that you do not want to miss. Although Victoria Azarenka is a relative newcomer, she’s already developing a reputation as a no-nonsense, intense, never-say-die competitor. Sounds like someone else we know, right?
This rematch of the Sony Ericsson Open final should be quite entertaining. Serena was nursing an injury in Miami, and the grass surface is far more favorable for the American. Victoria has the game to upset Serena again, but we have seen her waste a few big opportunities over the past week. She might be able to play that inconsistently against some women, but it will never work against Serena.
Prediction: Serena Williams in three sets
Venus Williams (USA) [3] vs Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) [11]
Once again, the defending champion finds herself relegated to a show court, instead of Centre. The scheduling on the main stadium has been quite erratic this year, especially as reigning world number one Dinara Safina played her first match of the tourney on Centre on Monday—a week after the competition started.
Despite the court, Venus Williams is not expected to let that bother her game. She played brutally efficient tennis against Ana Ivanovic in the fourth round, winning the first set 6-1 before Ivanovic succumbed to a freak thigh injury.
Agnieszka Radwanska, the junior champion at Wimbledon in 2005, has not beaten Venus since their first meeting in 2006, and never faced the five-time Wimbledon champion on grass. At this stage, it looks like only one person might have the goods to beat Venus—and that can’t happen until the Championship match.
Prediction: Venus Williams in two sets
Francesca Schiavone (ITA) 74 vs Elena Dementieva (RUS) [4]
It has been a pleasant surprise to see a clay-courter go this far at Wimbledon. Schiavone’s been one of the biggest underachievers on the Tour circuit, so it is nice to see her living up to her potential at a major.
Dementieva is always an unpredictable foe, especially on a surface that tends to favor players with a solid first serve. So far, Dementieva is only in second place on the most double faults list, trailing Lisicki’s 27 to her own 24.
That’s an encouraging stat for Schiavone, who did not drop serve against Virginie Razzano in the fourth round. If the Italian can continue to serve big, this match could go into three sets.
Prediction: Elena Dementieva in three sets
Enter OTB’s Pick the Winner’s Contest
How well do you know tennis? Do you think you can pick the winner of Tuesday’s featured match? Guess correctly and you might be one of the three lucky people chosen to win a pair of Drymax tennis socks!
To enter, simply select your pick for the winner of Tuesday’s match between Dinara Safina (RUS) [1] vs Sabine Lisicki (GER). All entries must be received by 7:00 AM ET on Tuesday. Only one entry per person.
Entry for today has ended.
NBC, ESPN2 and ESPN360.com Schedule for Tuesday
All times are Eastern
Ladies’ Quarterfinals – ESPN2 – 7:00 AM – 10:00 AM (LIVE)
Day 9 Coverage – ESPN360.com – 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Watch Live Online)
Quarterfinal Coverage – NBC – 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM (LIVE and Taped)
Ladies’ Quarterfinals – ESPN2 – 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM (LIVE)*
* – Alternate programming from 1 – 4 p.m. ET in Pacific Time Zone (10 a.m. – 1 p.m. PT)
