Wimbledon: Quarter-Final Predictions for Day 8

Petra Kvitova

I have just spent an exciting day at Wimbledon today (report/photos to follow in the coming days!!!) so I have limited time to do my quarter-final preview for the womens but here we go....

Serena Williams v Petra Kvitova

All year I have been waiting to see this match and FINALLY it has happened... Serena vs Kvitova! Both players had extremely tough matches today as Serena fought past the rapidly rising Kazakh wildcard, Yaroslava Shvedova, 6-1 2-6 7-5.  Kvitova recovered from a set and a break down to defeat Francesca Schiavone, 4-6 7-5 6-1.  

The last encounter between Serena and Kvitova took place in the Wimbledon semi-finals two years ago where Kvitova was still a relatively unknown face and went down fighting, 7-6 6-2.  Kvitova is a much more experienced player now and has improved her game in leaps and bounds.  I have had a feeling from the start of the tournament that Kvitova would beat Serena and not for one minute will I be changing my mind now!

Prediction - Kvitova to beat Serena in 2 very tight sets

Sabine Lisicki v Angelique Kerber

The Centre Court crowd have a smashing line-up of womens matches tomorrow with an all-German clash between Kerber and Lisicki closing the line-up.  Lisicki was stunning in her giant-killing upset of Maria Sharapova, 6-4 6-3, meanwhile Kerber was equally impressive as she destroyed Kim Clijsters, 6-1 6-1.  The scoreline reminds me of the time when Nadia Petrova completely stunned Clijsters at the Australian Open, but I did not have the chance to watch the match although it sounds like Kerber was on fire.  

Kerber has been the in-form player throughout 2012 and I cannot compliment her enough on her consistency at the last two Grand Slams; however Lisicki just loves the grass courts of Wimbledon and has raised her game to the level that took her to the semi-finals last year.  Kerber leads the head-to-head 4-0 but that can be put to one side with Lisicki's form on her grass.  I anticipate a great match, but i'm going for Kerber to edge it...

Prediction - Kerber to beat Lisicki in 3 sets

Best of the rest: 

Just like Lisicki, Tamira Paszek has come alive to match her performance of last year; funnily enough she faces the same opponent she did in last year's quarter-finals, Victoria Azarenka.  Both players were dominant winners today although Azarenka was the most impressive player on show with a 6-1 6-0 demolition of Ana Ivanovic.  The final quarter-final will see Agnieszka Radwanska take on Maria Kirilenko.  The top half will see a new Grand Slam finalist, meanwhile the bottom half is packed with the Grand Slam champions; the womens draw is finely poised for a terrific ending!!!!

Predictions:

Victoria Azarenka to beat Tamira Paszek in 2 sets (tighter than last year's quarter final!)

Agnieszka Radwanska to beat Maria Kirilenko in 3 sets