Wimbledon ladies’ singles fourth round preview

Alize Cornet v Eugenie Bouchard
Frenchwoman Cornet (7/4 to win the match) goes into this duel with rising star Bouchard (odds-on at 2/5) having seen off five-time Wimbledon champion Serena Williams in the third round in three sets. The 25th seed beat her upcoming Canadian opponent in their only meeting 2-1, and is 9/2 to do so again.

While 13th seed Bouchard has twice reached the semi-finals before in Grand Slams, this is just the second time Cornet has made it to the fourth round – the other being at the Australian Open in 2009.

Cornet hopes to replicate the surprise victory of his compatriot Marion Bartoli at SW19 last year, though. “I am super happy but my tournament isn’t over,” she said. “If I could have the same destiny as Marion last year, I’d sign for it straight away.”

Petra Kvitova v Shuai Peng
Czech sixth seed Kvitova (odds-on at 1/7 for victory) eliminated the other Williams sister, Venus, in the last round, and now faces world number 61 Peng (4/1), who has never progressed past this stage at any Slam before.

Kvitova is a former Wimbledon winner, in 2011, and is now second-favourite at 7/2 behind the very person she beat that year, Maria Sharapova, to lift the shield again.

Peng has faced Kvitova four times before, losing them all, including the most recent battle on grass at the London Olympics, where she lost in three sets. The Czech is 11/4 to win 2-1 again.

Angelique Kerber v Maria Sharapova
It is fair to say that fifth seed Sharapova has underperformed in Grand Slams in recent years, besides the French Open. However, she looks to be back in top form, having just won her second Roland Garros title and thrashing Alison Riske in the last round.

The Russian (2/9 for victory) now faces a much tougher opponent in ninth seed Kerber (3/1), but holds a 4-1 record against the German and is still favourite for her second SW19 title at 2/1.

“I’m quite happy with the way I’ve gone about things so far,” Sharapova said. “I’m happy I’ve gone further than last year (second round), erasing those memories and trying to form new ones.”