Wimbledon 1st Thursday women: Abrams picks 2nd round matches with Barty, Serena, Kerber, Bencic, Bertens, Mertens, Kvitova, Anisimova & more

Wimbledon 2019
Woman’s Singles Second Round picks for Thursday

Barty over Van Uytvanck
Last year Van Uytvanck got to the Round of 16 because she is developing a somewhat complete grass court game. But she’s nowhere near as complete as Barty, and the Aussie should have her way with the ginger from Belgium.

Riske over Jorovic
Riske has elevated her game this Spring, and she’s peaking at the right time. I like her in this match, with no trouble at all.

Bencic over Kanepi
Kai Kanepi is not who she was just two short years ago, but Belinda Bencic is better, and has been improving, for the most part. Although this will probably go three, I like the new Swiss Miss.

S. Williams over Juvan
Serena Williams has gotten luckier and luckier the older she’s gotten. Although she no longer has a really competitive game, she gets easier and easier draws. Wake me up when she actually has to play someone who can beat her. It won’t be long now.

Goerges over Flink
Goerges, the 18th seed, should roll over Flink. This should be over before it’s time for strawberries and cream.

Suarez Navvaro over Parmentier
This should be close, but I like the Spaniard. They’ve both been playing well, and this will feature some nice shotmaking, but ultimately, the Frenchwoman will fold.

Kerber over Davis
Angie Kerber is a favorite to contend for this title, and it will probably come down to her to put Serena out of her old age misery. I doubt Davis, the plucky little American, has much to hurt Kerber, but she’ll put up a damn good fight.

Bertens over Townsend
Kiki Bertens is another favorite to contend for this title, and she should get some good practice taking apart American Taylor Townsend. Townsend can hit and compete, but has no stamina. If this gets close, mark it down for Bertens.

Mertens over Niculescu
Mertens gave up only two games in her win over Ferro, but Niculescu struggled mightily to take out Petkovic, 7-5 in the third. I think Mertens is sharper and clearly better rested. She should roll over the Romanian.

Wang over Zidansek
Canadian Genie Bouchard almost won her first round match here, losing 8-6 in the third to Zidansek. Wang is rested enough to make Zidansek pay for not dismissing Bourchard with more ease.

Konta over Siniakova
Konta has upped her game the past two months, and in front of her home town crowd she should be skying. I like her to take out Siniakova, but it should be a bit of a battle.

Anisimova over Linette
The 17-year-old American, Anisimova, is no longer the only American teenager that the fans have become enamored with. But she should last longer in the draw than Gauff.

Kvitova over Mladenovic
Six-seed Petra Kvitova should walk away from this match the winner, but Katy Mladenovic is more than capable of providing an upset if she plays well. But I don’t think Kvitova will let this one slip away.