We've got three picks from the Wimbledon qualifying final round today, with a handful of players one win away from the main draw. None of these are particularly glamorous matchups, but that's qualifying for you, and there's always something on the line when a Wimbledon spot is at stake. Who do you think makes it through?
WTA Wimbledon Predictions
Xiyu Wang vs Marina Bassols Ribera
Head-to-head: First meeting
Wang is ranked nearly 60 spots above Bassols Ribera and has been a solid performer on grass over the years, comfortable enough with the surface to navigate qualifying without too much drama. Bassols Ribera is a clay-court player at heart and grass is probably the worst possible surface to face a more well-rounded opponent for the first time.
I think this goes three sets because qualifying matches on grass tend to be scrappy and unpredictable, but Wang should have enough to close it out, all things considered.
Prediction: Wang in 3
Maria Timofeeva vs Veronika Podrez
Head-to-head: First meeting
Timofeeva holds a decent ranking advantage here and has been quietly consistent on tour this season. Podrez is ranked 144th and hasn't shown anything on grass that would make you worry for the higher-ranked player. Hard to see this being competitive at all, and the gap in ranking and experience feels pretty real.
Timofeeva wins this, probably in three.
Prediction: Timofeeva in 3
Katarzyna Kawa vs Kayla Day
Head-to-head: Kawa 1-1 Day
This is the most interesting of the three. The pair are dead level at 1-1 and both are ranked close enough that you can't just wave Day away. Kawa is the higher-ranked player and has had a decent year and the 1-1 split means she's already beaten Day before, which matters a little going into a big occasion like a Wimbledon qualifying final. That said, Day hasn't done anything on grass recently to suggest she flips this.
I feel like Kawa gets over the line, but it won't be comfortable.
Prediction: Kawa in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Rob Prange/AFP7 via ZUMA Press Wire