Kim Clijsters to remain on course for dream Wimbledon send-off

Though there have, as ever, been shocks in the women’s singles, the top-four seeds – and six of the top eight – have made it to the final week, setting up some intriguing fourth-round collisions…

Maria Sharapova v Sabine Lisicki
Neither has performed as well as en route to their semi-final clash last year. Sharapova looks able to find more when required though, as shown by taking the final set 6-0 against Tsvetana Pironkova in the second round and battling back from 2-4 in the second set against Hsieh Su-wei to get this far. The French Open winner is 3-0 in head-to-head action with the German. Six of the seven sets in those contests were concluded in nine games or fewer, with Monday’s first 8/13 to follow suit.

Ana Ivanovic v Victoria Azarenka
Talk of former world number one Ivanovic being back to her best feels premature. 22nd seed Julia Gorges has been her fiercest opponent, she has dropped two sets and her last Grand Slam quarter-final appearance was over four years ago. Victory here against the form player of the first part of the year would make the claims more genuine. However, after a testing few months, Azarenka has been supreme so far, conceding only 13 games (to Ivanovic’s 34) and appeals at 5/6 to win in straight sets.

Kim Clijsters v Angelique Kerber
With Kerber improving over the last year while Clijsters has been less active due to injuries and selective scheduling, this is the pair’s first meeting at what is slated to be Clijsters’ last Wimbledon. Both impressed in their first three outings so this is Monday’s closest match odds-wise, the Belgian’s greater experience of these occasions giving her the edge at 4/6. This is Kerber’s first fourth-round tie at Wimbledon, whereas Clijsters has been here five times this century and won on four of those.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.