Muguruza handed tricky Wimbledon opener

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  • French Open champion: Garbine Muguruza.

    French Open champion Garbine Muguruza was dealt a tough hand as she was drawn to take on tricky Italian Camila Giorgi in the first round at Wimbledon.

    A runner-up last year at the All England Club, Muguruza returns to SW19 as the No2 seed after winning her first grand slam title in Paris three weeks ago.

    Defending champion Serena Williams was drawn in the same half as former finalist and No3 seed Agnieszka Radwanska, and the American could get No31 seed Kristina Mladenovic in the third round, in what would be a rematch of their tight encounter at the French Open third round four weeks ago.

    Svetlana Kuznetsova (13) or Sloane Stephens (18) could take on Serena in the last-16 but the former will first have to tackle ex-world No1 Caroline Wozniacki in the first round.

    In the quarters, Serena could square off with sixth-seeded Roberta Vinci, the woman who ended her calendar year Grand Slam hopes last year in the US Open semi-finals.

    Should Radwanska make it to a projected last-four showdown with Williams, the Pole must first get through the likes of Mallorca champion Caroline Garcia (30) in the third round, and two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova (10) or 2013 junior Wimbledon winner Belinda Bencic (7) in the last-16.

    Bencic missed the French Open with a back injury and has a worrying first round with two-time Wimbledon semi-finalist, Tsvetana Pironkova, who also made the last quarter-finals at the French Open earlier this month.

    In the opposite half of the draw, Australian Open champion and No4 seed Angelique Kerber could face fifth-seeded Simona Halep in the quarter-finals but must first dismiss local favourite Laura Robson in the first round.

    Kerber or Halep are possible semi-final foes for Muguruza, who has a potential third round with No28 seed Lucie Safarova in the third round, should she get past Giorgi in her opener.

    Five-time Wimbledon champion and No8 seed Venus Williams, could await Muguruza in the quarter-finals.

    Women’s first rounds to watch:

    Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS x13) v Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)

    Petra Kvitova (CZE x10) v Sorana Cirstea (ROU)

    Belinda Bencic (SUI x7) v Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL)

    Angelique Kerber (GER x4) v Laura Robson (GBR)

    Venus Williams (USA x8) v Donna Vekic (CRO)

    Lucie Safarova (CZE x28) v Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA)

    Garbine Muguruza (ESP x2) v Camila Giorgi (ITA)

    Women’s projected quarter-finals (according to seeding):

    Serena Williams (USA x1) v Roberta Vinci (ITA x6)

    Agnieszka Radwanska (POL x3) v Belinda Bencic (SUI x7)

    Simona Halep (ROU x5) v Angelique Kerber (GER x4)

    Garbine Muguruza (ESP x2) v Venus Williams (USA x8)

    Quarter-by-quarter look:

    First quarter
    Serena has some familiar foes in that section, but she should come through unscathed. Vinci on the other hand could fall to Riske in the first round.
    Sport360 quarter-final pick: Serena Williams v Coco Vandeweghe

    Second quarter
    So many upset alerts in this section with Bencic not in form and coming back from injury, Konta, Puig and Cibulkova all coming late to Wimbledon due to their runs in Eastbourne this weekend. Radwanska also not in peak form.
    Sport360 quarter-final pick: Caroline Garcia v Petra Kvitova

    Third quarter
    Tough to expect much from Halep, who had left Achilles’ problems that ruled her out of Birmingham, and Kerber made quarters there but is also in questionable form.
    Sport360 quarter-final pick: Madison Keys v Karolina Pliskova

    Fourth quarter
    A relatively tame section. Should Muguruza overcome a tricky opener against Giorgi, she should have a clear path to semis.
    Sport360 quarter-final pick: Venus Williams v Garbine Muguruza

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