Our panelists are here for the very last match of the ladies’ tournament at Wimbledon, the upcoming much-anticipated final between Serena Williams and Garbine Muguruza. Interestingly enough, all three of this pair’s previous meetings have come at Grand Slams. Serena won their two matches at the Australian Open–in straight sets in 2013 and in three sets earlier this year. Muguruza, on the other hand, won their meeting at the French Open last year. This is their first meeting on grass. Giving their predictions today are Linda Celia Ellis and Finn Ranson of LWOS and Pete Ziebron of tennisacumen.com. As a bonus, LWOS’ own Niall Clarke will give a more in-depth preview of this final before giving his prediction. Does anyone have the guts to call the upset?

2015 Wimbledon Ladies’ Final Preview and Predictions

Linda

I think this match will be decided on the basis of which player can control their nerves the best. There so much at stake for Williams as she tries to complete the Grand Slam and for Muguruza as she tries to win her first Major title. Muguruza is one of the few players with enough power to overcome Williams but she may not be strong enough yet mentally to overcome the #1 player.

Prediction: Williams in 3

Pete

Serena Williams will be attempting to win her fourth consecutive major and go 21-4 in major finals with a win at The Championships. Meanwhile Garbine Muguruza, who continues to play well in majors, will appear in her very first major final. Muguruza has impressed several times throughout this fortnight, digging deep against red hot Angelique Kerber and blitzing Aga Radwanska early in the semis before steadying her game in the third set to advance to the final. Williams also had her share of drama in the tournament, in the 3rd round against Heather Watson and again when she lost the 1st set to Victoria Azarenka in the quarters. Both players will remember Wimbledon 2015 fondly, Muguruza for her improbable and impressive run and Serena Williams for her ability to continue to excel in unprecedented territory in tennis history. Williams takes another step toward the 2015 Grand Slam at Wimbledon.

Prediction: Williams in 2

Finn

Well, Muguruza surprised me in defeating Radwanska, but I still think this will be one step too far for her. A first Grand Slam final is difficult to approach mentally as it is, but against Serena – such a veteran Grand Slam finalist (Serena has won 20 of her 24 Grand Slam finals) – the nerves will surely be heightened. Indeed, Muguruza defeated Serena Williams back in the 2014 French Open; however that was in the second round, on Serena’s weakest surface (if there is one) and since then, Williams has beaten her. Although Wimbledon isn’t the World #1’s most successful Slam, the grass certainly enhances her serve and the pace of her ground strokes. That being said, Muguruza won’t be out to defend. Throughout the tournament the Spaniard has been enjoying great success with an aggressive playing style and, perhaps unlike Serena, is not reluctant to approach the net and indeed is very handy at it. I worry though that Muguruza may try too hard to take control of the baseline rallies – such may be the eagerness to prevent Serena from getting onto the front foot. Muguruza will suffer from a tense start, but will grow into the match and make the American move, something Sharapova certainly didn’t do enough of. Serena’s sheer experience will bring her through, but expect a close affair, not a Williams domination.

Prediction: Williams in 3

Niall

It was only a few weeks ago I wrote an article explaining why Muguruza struggles on grass. Man, has she proved me wrong since. Not expected to make it past the third round, the 21-year-old has beaten the likes of Angelique Kerber, Caroline Wozniacki, and Agniezska Radwanska on her way to her first Grand Slam final. The Spaniard has shown a great attitude and mentality by playing the big points excellently and not letting the occasion get to her. Muguruza has also played great tennis using controlled aggression to overpower her opponents. Now in her first grand slam final, has Muguruza arrived on the big stage?

Williams is still on course for the ‘Serena Slam’ after dispatching Sharapova easily for what seems like the millionth time. The World #1 was battle tested by Heather Watson and Victoria Azarenka but her champion mentality and ability to up her game to a level only she can reach pulled her through. In Muguruza, she is playing someone has beaten her 2 and 2 at the French Open and has troubled her ever since. However, this is a Grand Slam final at Wimbledon. This is Serena’s element.

Muguruza has good tactics against Serena. The Spaniard hits the ball deep right at Serena, meaning the World #1 struggles to open up any angles, then she will look for a winner off a short ball. Implementing those tactics in a Grand Slam final is a different story. How will Muguruza handle the occasion? Will she relish the big stage or crumble like Lisicki two years before her? The good news is there is no added pressure of being the favourite, so the Spaniard should be able to swing freely. Will it be enough to overcome the five-time champion? I feel Muguruza will get off to a good start, maybe even run away with the first set. But at this point she will start thinking of the possibility of being a Grand Slam champion. I think from there Serena will up her game and take a close second set before running away with the third to complete the ‘Serena Slam’ and stay on course for the calendar year Grand Slam.

Prediction: Williams in 3

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