Some great grass court action is on tap this week with the 2017 WTA Aegon Classic about to host a number of top women’s players around the globe. Let’s check on some of the names entered in the tournament.
The withdrawal of Angelique Kerber because of a hamstring issue has definitely shifted plenty of attention to Svitolina. With Kerber out, Svitolina is now the highest-ranked player in the tournament, as she’s currently No. 5 in the world. Svitolina is coming off a devastating loss to Simona Halep in the quarters of the French Open in which she blew a 5-1 lead in the second set by losing 12 of the succeeding 13 games.
Nevertheless, Svitolina, who is +2,000 to win the upcoming Wimbledon, is a force to be reckoned with on the court. She’s won four titles on the season, including the one at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia back in May, when she took down Karolina Pliskova, Garbine Muguruza, and Halep in succession.
Cibulková isn’t as successful this year as Svitolina, but big things are expected of the Slovak. With eight-career WTA titles, it’s hard to count out someone like Cibulková, who’s also No. 6 in the world. Cibulková crashed out of the first round of the Topshelf Open in Netherlands, so she’ll come into Birmingham thirsty for a win.
Sleeper: Daria Gavrilova
Gavrilova is headed to Birmingham fresh. Ousted right in the very first round of the French Open singles play, Gavrilova had plenty of rest and time to prepare for the Aegon Classic, the next stop in her search for her first-ever WTA title. She looked strong in Strasbourg prior to the French Open, however, reaching the finals of the WTA Internationaux de Strasbourg, where she won the first set before losing the next two to Samantha Stosur.
Longshot: Heather Watson
Wildcard Heather Watson hopes that her finals appearance last week in 2017 Aegon Surbiton Trophy is a sign of better things to come. Watson, who lost all four of her four singles matches prior to the Surbiton, fell short of wining the event but still put up a gallant stand in a 6-4, 7-5 loss to Magdaléna Rybáriková. If anything, the British No. 2 Watson has expressed her fondness of being in Birmingham, where she’s been a regular visitor.
Writer’s Prediction
Elina Svitolina capitalizes on the absence of Kerber and wins the tournament.
