Wimbledon 2024 Day 9: Women's doubles predictions ft. Coco Gauff/Jessica Pegula vs Elise Mertens/Hsieh Su-wei
Day 9 of Wimbledon 2024 has a mix of quarterfinal and third-round matches lined up across the women's doubles event. Most of the big names are still in the mix, with the third seeded duo of Ellen Perez and Nicole Melichar-Martinez being the highest-ranked team to be eliminated thus far.
Coco Gauff went down to Emma Navarro in the fourth round in singles. However, she still reached her first doubles quarterfinal at Wimbledon, albeit in doubles. Jelena Ostapenko had made the quarterfinals here in singles and doubles, with Barbora Krejcikova aiming to do the same.
The Czech has already booked her quarterfinal berth in singles, and a win in today's doubles match would seal the deal for her. With some exciting matches set in store, here's a look at the predictions for all the matches set for Day 9 of Wimbledon:
#1 - Coco Gauff/Jessica Pegula vs Elise Mertens/Hsieh Su-wei (QF)
While Gauff and Pegula's singles campaign has already concluded, the two have managed to reach their first doubles quarterfinal at Wimbledon. They have now made the last eight in doubles across all four Majors.
The American duo defeated Anhelina Kalinina and Dayana Yastremska in the first round, and then ousted Anna Danilina and Xu Yifan. They beat Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani 6-2, 6-4 to make the last eight.
After comfortable victories over the British pairings of Alicia Barnett and Freya Christie, and Emily Appleton and Yuriko Miyazaki, Mertens and Hsieh were put to the test in the third round. However, they dug deep to get past Sofia Kenin and Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-4, 3-6, 6-1.
Mertens and Hsieh won the title in Birmingham in the lead-up to Wimbledon, along with the Australian Open and the Indian Wells Open earlier this season. While Pegula hasn't won any doubles title this year, Gauff won the French Open alongside Katerina Siniakova.
Hsieh is the defending champion here, having won the title with Barbora Strycova last year. Mertens has reached the final at SW19 the last three years as well. Given their record at the venue, they will be favored to beat Pegula and Gauff.
Predicted winners: Elise Mertens and Hsieh Su-wei
#2 - Jelena Ostapenko/Lyudmyla Kichenok vs Katerina Siniakova/Taylor Townsend (QF)
Ostapenko and Kichenok rallied from a set down to beat Olivia Nicholls and Tereza Mihalikova 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 and advance to the quarterfinals. It marked the duo's sixth consecutive win, having won the title in Eastbourne prior to Wimbledon.
Siniakova and Townsend defeated Leylah Fernandez and Ena Shibahara 6-2, 7-6 (3) to reach the last eight here. The Czech and the American have paired up this year, while Ostapenko and Kichenok have been together for a few years.
However, Siniakova has found success with almost every player she has teamed up with. Townsend is an excellent doubles player with a great touch at the net. Ostapenko is in great form at the moment, and Kichenok's style compliments her aggressive gameplay as well. The Lativan-Ukrainian combine could pip their opponents to make the semifinals.
Predicted winners: Jelena Ostapenko and Lyudmyla Kichenok
#3 - Barbora Krejcikova/Laura Siegemund vs Veronika Kudermetova/Chan Hao-ching (R3)
Krejcikova and Siegemund defeated Eden Silva and Samantha Murray-Sharan 7-6 (1), 6-4 in their opener. They followed it up with a comfortable 6-3, 6-3 win over Alycia Parks and Hailey Baptiste.
Kudermetova and Chan needed three sets to get past Sloane Stephens and Ashlyn Krueger in the first round. They beat the pairing of Nao Hibino and Cristina Bucsa 6-2, 7-5 to reach the third round.
Kudermetova and Chan have been on fire during the grass swing, reaching back-to-back finals in Berlin and Bad Homburg. Krejcikova and Siegemund have excellent resumes on their own but together the two have yet to win a title. The Czech is a two-time doubles champion at Wimbledon, and her prior experience could help her team get over the finish line.
Predicted winners: Barbora Krejcikova and Laura Siegemund
#4 - Gabriela Dabrowski/Erin Routliffe vs Marta Kostyuk/Elena Gabriela-Ruse (R3)
Kostyuk and Ruse upset 13th seeds Guiliana Olmos and Alexandra Panova in the first round, and then beat Yana Sizikova and Wang Wafan 6-4, 6-4 in the next round. The two previously reached the semifinals of the French Open as well.
Dabrowski and Routliffe knocked out the Russian duo of Mirra Andreeva and Anastasia Potapova in their opener. They escaped Kamila Rakhimova and Irina Khromacheva in three sets to reach the third round.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won the title in Nottingham in the lead-up to Wimbledon, and finished as the runners-up in Eastbourne. Their form and experience as a team make them the favorites in this encounter, though Kostyuk and Ruse have become the experts in turning the tables on accomplished doubles teams, and can't be counted out.
Predicted winners: Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe