Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the WTA Wimbledon match.
Former world No. 3 Maria Sakkari continues to slide down the rankings and will begin her Wimbledon campaign from 85th place. Anna Blinkova, ranked higher and enjoying a more consistent season, will look to capitalise on her opponent’s slump and reach the second round.
Maria Sakkari
Sakkari’s form is a major concern — she has lost five of her last seven matches, and her overall season record is in the red (15-18). The Greek has struggled across all surfaces, including grass, where she recently lost to Rebeka Masarova (WTA No. 100) and Dries Mertens (No. 77). Her first serve has been unreliable, landing just 57% of the time, with an average of three double faults per match.
Anna Blinkova
Blinkova, meanwhile, has handled players outside the top 50 with confidence — she’s won nine of her last ten such matchups. This season, she’s claimed four wins from seven matches, losing only to top-50 opponents (Maya Joint, Ekaterina Alexandrova, Clara Tauson). Her first serve numbers are more stable — 62% accuracy and 61% points won behind it.
Maria Sakkari vs Anna Blinkova Prediction
Sakkari has been underwhelming this year and continues to lose even to lower-ranked players on grass. Blinkova may lack headline wins, but she’s dependable against lower-tier opponents. We’re backing her to get the job done here.