Sofia Kenin vs Jessica Bouzas Maneiro

🎾 Wimbledon 2025 – Sofia Kenin vs Jessica Bouzas Maneiro Preview

WTA – 1/32 Finals | Grass | July 3, 2025

🧠 Form & Context

Sofia Kenin
🔥 Steely response: Beat Taylor Townsend 7–6, 6–2 in the first round despite a nervy start, saving two set points before storming ahead.
📊 Mixed year: Made the final in Charleston and reached the quarterfinals in Dubai and Hobart, but has also suffered early losses in Eastbourne, Berlin, and several majors.
🌱 Grass unknowns: Entered Wimbledon with two straight grass-court losses (Birrell, Masarova). Still, she reached the third round in 2023 and owns a 24–15 career record on the surface.
🎾 Slam profile: Former Australian Open champion with 10 career R2 wins at Slams. Has made the 3rd round or better at 4 of her last 6 majors.

Jessica Bouzas Maneiro
💡 R1 walkover: Advanced after Ella Seidel retired mid-match while trailing 6–3, 3–2. Not a physically taxing win, but limited match reps on grass.
🚀 Breakthrough season: Reached R3 at the French Open and US Open, as well as quarterfinals in Rabat, Rouen, and Guangzhou. Close to breaking into the Top 50.
🌱 Grass inexperience: Just 3 career grass wins—all at Wimbledon—but did reach R3 here in 2024, including a stunner over Vondroušová.
📈 Giant killer potential: Beat Emma Navarro (RG) and Markéta Vondroušová (Wim 2024) in Slams. Owns five Top 40 wins in the last 12 months.

🔍 Match Breakdown

This is a fascinating clash between a veteran Slam champion and an ascending young talent. Kenin’s grass-court record is modest, but she brings grit and experience. Her return game, especially on second serve, could exploit Bouzas Maneiro’s occasionally fragile service games.

Bouzas Maneiro, however, is fearless. She’s not afraid of big names and tends to rise in majors. Her clean timing and improved fitness have given her a baseline game that can trouble more established names. That said, her lack of top-tier matches on grass could be a disadvantage here, especially if Kenin varies pace and brings her signature backhand firepower.

The serve will be key—if Kenin keeps a high first-serve percentage and takes control early in rallies, she can dictate play. Bouzas needs to stretch points, redirect pace, and force Kenin to move laterally—something that worked for Masarova and Birrell recently.

🔮 Prediction

Kenin’s experience and ability to problem-solve in Slams give her the edge. Bouzas Maneiro is still green on grass, and her underpowered serve may be exposed by a locked-in Kenin return. That said, the Spaniard could sneak a set if she redlines or if Kenin dips.

Prediction: Kenin in 3 sets — expect some momentum swings and one tight set, but the American should find a way to get it done.