Sam Querrey thinks a WTA player will win Wimbledon for the first time in 2024.
Following the conclusion of the French Open the tennis world turns its attention to the grass court season, which will conclude with Grand Slam action from the All-England Club.
Wimbledon is the one major played on grass and usually sees some huge upsets and surprise tournament winners, as was the case in 2023.
The WTA crowned a new champion at SW19 a year ago, when Marketa Vondrosova won the title after defeating Ons Jabeur, who was the overwhelming favourite to win.
With the Grand Slam less than a month away, players are doing their best to get themselves in shape to conquer the hallowed turf of South West London.
Sam Querrey predicts a first time winner at Wimbledon
On the WTA tour there has been a new Wimbledon winner every year since Garbine Muguruza defeated Venus Williams to win the title in 2017.
During an appearance on the French Connection Podcast, Querrey expects this trend to continue by predicting Aryna Sabalenka to lift the Venus Rosewater Dish this summer.
The 26-year-old reached the French Open quarter-finals, but was hampered by stomach issues in a surprise three-set loss to teenager Mirra Andreeva.
But after being impressed by the power and aggression she played with during her run to the last eight in Paris, Querrey expects that to translate well onto the grass courts.
“On the women’s side, I think we saw in the first round of the French Open her average forehand speed was around 150 miles an hour,” the American said. “If those are dialled in she’s going to be tough to beat, so I’m going to go with Sabalenka.”
What is Aryna Sabalenka’s Wimbledon record?
Sabalenka has played at Wimbledon five times in her career. In fact, her debut in 2017 was the first Grand Slam she ever entered at senior level, and she reached the second round.
After two first round exits in 2018 and 2019, Sablenka achieved her best result of reaching the semi-finals in 2021.
She was banned from competing in 2022 along with her fellow Belarusian and Russian players due to the Ukraine war.
When the ban was lifted she returned to Wimbledon in 2023, where she one again reached the last four but was beaten by Jabeur in three sets.
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