Wimbledon 2017 Women's quarterfinal preview: Venus, Kuznetsova and new WTA champions look to win

Muguruza significantly lead’s the pair’s head-to-head record, but Kuznetsova has more experience

Coco Vandeweghe vs Magdalena Rybarikova

Vandeweghe is an experienced Grand Slam campaigner, while Rybarikova upset the tournament favourite here

American Coco Vandeweghe comes into today’s contest with an upset over Caroline Wozniacki in Round 4. But Rybarikova toppled perhaps the biggest fish of them all in the in-form Karolina Pliskova, the Number 3 seed here and the overwhelming favourite to win the tournament.

For context, Rybarikova is ranked a comparatively lowly 87^th in the rankings. Pliskova is currently in the running for World No. 1.

The Slovakian ace has toppled experienced campaigners in Monica Niculescu and Lesia Tsurenko en route to the quarter-finals. Until 2017, she had never made it to the quarter-finals of any Major – so this is perhaps the biggest achievement of her career so far. The 28-year-old, who was a top-40 singles player in 2013, has slowly descended down the rankings since, but has always been best on hard-courts, and strong on grass.

In 2009, Rybarikova defeated former World No. 1 Li Na in straight sets to take her first ever WTA title at the Aegon Classic – but surprisingly did not play another grass-court final since, going on to be more successful on hard surfaces.

Junior US Open winner Coco Vandeweghe on the other hand, although younger than her opponent, is more experienced at Grand Slams. The American made the semi-finals of the Australian Open this year, losing to eventual runner-up Venus Williams.

This is not Vandeweghe’s first time at the quarter-finals of Wimbledon. In 2015, the then- year old took a set off Maria Sharapova before eventually losing in the QF that year.

But one surprising statistic glares out here – Vandeweghe has never defeated Rybarikova, with the Slovakian winning in straight sets both times the two played each other – most recently at the French Open this year.

Vandeweghe also has one of the strongest serves on the women’s tour, always an asset at Wimbledon. Fast on her feet, she’s also a two-time winner at s’-Hertogenbosch, played on outdoor hard-courts, and this should stand her in good stead. That, plus the coaching of 1987 Wimbledon champion Pat Cash, should help her move closer towards the title.

Prediction: Coco Vandeweghe to win in three sets