Tennis

Jessica Pegula, the No. 5 seed at Wimbledon, expressed her thoughts on the tournament's unpredictable nature and her own approach to the competition.Pegula, who reached the quarterfinals in 2021, acknowledged the recent trend of different women winning the grass-court major in recent years. She noted that the top half of the draw features formidable opponents like Iga Swiatek, Marketa Vondrousova, and Elena Rybakina.However, Pegula also highlighted the absence of former semifinalists in the bottom half due to injuries to Aryna Sabalenka and Victoria Azarenka. She revealed her prediction that Brenda Fruhvirtova would defeat Mirra Andreeva, which ultimately came to fruition.Pegula emphasized her belief in her abilities but refrained from setting unrealistic expectations. She explained that she focuses on winning each match rather than dwelling on the possibility of winning the tournament.Despite her recent grass-court title in Berlin, Pegula remains grounded and recognizes the unique atmosphere of Wimbledon. She admitted that it's difficult to ignore the sense of history and grandeur that surrounds the event.Pegula also shared her experience of participating in an escape room adventure with her sister and fellow Olympic team member Desirae Krawczyk. She expressed her enjoyment and hinted at the possibility of trying another one.

Andy Roddick and Jon Wertheim have released their predictions for Wimbledon 2023 following the draw ceremony.Women's Draw:Roddick expressed concern for Iga Swiatek's quarter, which includes defending champion Marketa Vondrousova. He believes Swiatek's movement and ball flight may need adjustments on grass, making her more vulnerable. However, he still predicts Swiatek to reach the semifinals, facing Vondrousova.In the next quarter, Roddick predicts Elena Rybakina and Jessica Pegula to advance, with an honorable mention to Katie Boulter.Emma Raducanu is seen as a potential spoiler in the bottom half, despite a tough first-round draw against Ekaterina Alexandrova. Roddick believes Raducanu's recent grass-court form could carry her through.Roddick and Wertheim differ significantly in their predictions for the women's final. Roddick has Jessica Pegula reaching her first Grand Slam final, losing to Aryna Sabalenka. Wertheim, on the other hand, predicts a Swiatek-Gauff final.Men's Draw:Roddick and Wertheim largely agree on the men's outcomes. Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini are seen as potential second-round opponents. Sinner is predicted to reach the quarterfinals, facing Grigor Dimitrov.Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz is the clear favorite in his quarter, with Tommy Paul named as his quarterfinal opponent.Andrey Rublev's section features Lorenzo Musetti, who Roddick believes could be a threat on grass. However, Roddick predicts Sebastian Korda to overtake Musetti for a spot in the quarterfinals.In the bottom section, Novak Djokovic is the favorite to reach the semifinals, where he would face Taylor Fritz. Sinner is predicted to face Alcaraz in the other semifinal, with the Italian emerging victorious.In the predicted Italy-Serbia match for the title, Roddick has Sinner winning his first Wimbledon title and second slam.

Wimbledon 2023: Expert Predictions and Potential SurprisesWith the Wimbledon draws complete, experts weigh in on the potential champions and biggest surprises in both the men's and women's tournaments.Women's Champion Predictions:* Iga Swiatek: Despite facing Grand Slam champions, Swiatek's dominance on clay suggests she could complete a Channel Slam.* Aryna Sabalenka: Despite a drop in ranking, Sabalenka's powerful game and first-strike mentality make her a strong favorite.* Ons Jabeur: After reaching the Wimbledon final last year, Jabeur aims to break through for her first Grand Slam title.* Elena Rybakina: The reigning Wimbledon champion has had a strong season and is a contender to retain her title.Men's Champion Predictions:* Carlos Alcaraz: The Roland Garros champion is a threat on grass with his X-factor on big points.* Jannik Sinner: The world No. 1 has won his first grass-court title and is a strong contender.* Hubert Hurkacz: With a big serve and determination, Hurkacz could ride his momentum to his first major title.* Alexander Zverev: Zverev's favorable draw and grass-court prowess make him a potential champion.Potential Surprises in the Women's Draw:* Dayana Yastremska: The rising star has established herself in the Top 30 and could upset higher-seeded players.* Daria Kasatkina: Her experience and playing style give her a chance to reach the Wimbledon semis for the first time.* Donna Vekic: The unseeded floater has the potential to break open the draw.* Emma Raducanu: The wildcard entrant could reach the quarterfinals, as she did in 2021.Potential Surprises in the Men's Draw:* Jack Draper: The British wildcard has shown impressive form and could be a surprise title contender.* Sebastian Korda: With a favorable draw and strong grass-court game, Korda could make a deep run.* Marcos Giron: The American has produced notable grass-court wins this month and could challenge top players.* Taylor Fritz: Fritz's grass-court prowess and favorable draw make him a potential semifinalist.

Tennis Stars Predict Gold Medalists for Paris OlympicsWith the Paris Olympics fast approaching, Tennis Channel surveyed WTA and ATP stars to predict potential gold medalists in various sports beyond tennis.Pole Vault:Elena Rybakina emerged as the favorite for pole vault, receiving four votes from Paula Badosa, Aryna Sabalenka, Jelena Ostapenko, and Ons Jabeur. Jannik Sinner followed closely with three nominations from Casper Ruud, Zheng Qinwen, and Arthur Fils.Table Tennis:Andrey Rublev topped the table tennis predictions with three votes from Carlos Alcaraz, Sabalenka, and Coco Gauff. Alexander Bublik and Rafael Nadal each received two votes.Boxing:Sabalenka, Gauff, Taylor Fritz, and Ben Shelton all expressed confidence in their own abilities to win gold in boxing. Rublev and Reilly Opelka tied with two votes each.Fencing:Reilly Opelka and Alex de Minaur shared the lead in fencing with two votes each. Other notable picks included Gauff, Jabeur, and Medvedev.Gymnastics:Novak Djokovic dominated the gymnastics predictions, receiving an overwhelming 9.5 votes. Gauff, Sabalenka, and Matteo Arnaldi also received support.Other Predictions:* Swimming: Sabalenka and Gauff predicted gold for Iga Swiatek.* Archery: Ons Jabeur and Gauff chose each other.* Basketball: Medvedev selected Caroline Garcia.* Volleyball: Jasmine Paolini was Andreeva's pick.