WIMBLEDON 2006: Ladies' Quarterfinal Predictions

Amélie Mauresmo FRA (1) vs. Venus Williams USA (11). Venus and Amélie were supposed to meet in the quarterfinals at the French Open last month. Neither of them made it, they both lost to semifinalist Nicole Vaidisova CZE (10). It's very possible, that this quarterfinal might not happen. Both favorites have to get past excellent Russian players in the fourth round. Venus has to play Anastasia Myskina RUS (9) and Amélie has Dinara Safina RUS (14). Venus was two points away from losing to doubles phenom Lisa Raymond on Wednesday. Venus raised her game and won 9 games in a row, and then closed out the match. Grass is actually the French #1's best surface and until this year's Australian Open was the site of her best Grand Slam success. There's something about the grass that brings out the best in Venus' game and I figure she will save at least one match point but win. This match shoudl be the best of the quarterfinals. PREDICTION: Williams in 3 sets.

Maria Sharapova RUS (4) vs. Elena Dementieva RUS (7) . When the Russians play each other there is always extra tension. Sharapova's game is well-suited to the grass. Although Dementieva's serve has improved her two great strengths: mental toughness/fighting spirit and powerful ground strokes are matched, if not surpassed by Sharapova. PREDICTION: Sharapova in 3 sets.

Martina Hingis SUI (12) Ai Sugiyama JPN (18) vs. Justine Henin-Hardenne BEL (3). The Swiss miss finally recieved her comeuppance from the Japanese veteran after being up 2 breaks in the third set. The odious Justine is the defending champion and will easily get into the semi-final over Ai Sugiyama or the French qualifier Severine Bremond who took out Patty Schnyder SUI (8) and Gisela Dulko ARG (31). I doubt she can make it 3 seeds in a row. In the fourth round Henin-Hardenne will need to get past a resurgent Daniela Hantuchova SVK (15). PREDICTION: Henin-Hardenne in 2 sets.

Kim Clijsters BEL (2) vs. Nicole Vaidisova CZE (10) . Vaidisova just made her breakthrough in her French Open quarterfinal win over Venus last month outhitting the current Wimbledon champion in 3 sets. Can she beat the current US Open champion in her second Grand slam quarterfinal? That would be quite surprising. PREDICTION: Clijsters in 3 sets.