This match has possibilities. Halep and Kerber each tend to get involved in epics at the majors, and they staged one of their own in Canada last year. After three sets and many long rallies in the summer heat, Halep staggered to victory, 6-4 in the third. With their speed and retrieving skills, neither woman can just knock the ball past the other; they’ve got to work, construct, attack and defend for their points. At the same time, Halep and Kerber offer a contrast in style—the Romanian is a smooth ball-striker, the German an athletic improviser. I’m hoping for another three-set rally-fest, and thinking that Halep, who appears to be on a promising roll, will win it. Winner: Halep
Oddly enough, after 10 years on tour together, these two have never played. Each is obviously in-form at the moment: Venus has beaten two quality players in Carla Suarez Navarro and Daria Kasatkina, and has proven resourceful and resilient in the process. Shvedova, meanwhile, has knocked off former Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki, former Wimbledon semifinalist Lucie Safarova and the up-and-coming Elina Svitolina—the 96th-ranked woman in the world must be doing something right. Shvedova is an athletic, erratic shotmaker who nearly beat Serena Williams on these courts a few years ago. That kind of sounds like Venus Williams, on an off day. Winner: V. Williams
Pavlyuchenkova may be the pleasant surprise of the women’s side. She’s ranked a none-too-shabby No. 23, but she had lost in the first round of both of her grass-court tune-up events, and she hadn’t made it past the third round at Wimbledon in 10 tries. But this chronic over-hitter has worked on her fitness, and this week the consistency has come with it. She’ll obviously have to be even better against Serena; in their last three meetings, the Russian has failed to win more than three games in any set. But Serena will be playing for a third straight day, and a Pavlyuchenkova with nothing to lose could catch her flat-footed with her pace—for a set. Winner: S. Williams
The second quarterfinal on No. 1 Court is the most surprising, and may be the hardest to call. The 50th-ranked Vesnina has never made it this far at Wimbledon, while the 18th-ranked Cibulkova has reached the quarters there just once, in 2008. While their rankings aren’t close, their head-to-head is 3-3, with Cibulkova having won the last two in straight sets, and Vesnina having won their only meeting at Wimbledon, 6-4 in the third set, seven years ago. Their energy levels should also be roughly equivalent: Cibulkova and Vesnina each won 9-7 in the third set on Monday—Domi said it was the most tiring match of her career. All other things being equal, though, she’s the better player. Winner: Cibulkova