Wimbledon 2015: Predictions for Top Singles Stars of Monday's Draw Schedule

A much-needed Sunday of rest is in the rearview mirror, and Monday's start of fourth-round play at Wimbledon will mark a new beginning for the 16 contenders still left in both draws.

The opening-week upsets are now things of the past, and any opponent faced by the world's top stars will be worthy of playing on the same court. The unseeded foes left standing have proved their worth with early upsets, and everyone still alive is eyeing another long week of play to end with the lifting of a title.

Monday's action is about to begin, so take a look below at predictions for the biggest matchups on tap.

No. 1 Serena Williams vs. No. 16 Venus Williams

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Serena Williams and sister Venus Williams will face each other for the 26th time in their careers Monday with a spot in the quarterfinals on the line. But they've rarely played with so much separating the two.

While Serena has remained a dominant force in the women's game and still has the opportunity to win all four Grand Slam events in 2015, Venus has struggled. She hasn't won a Grand Slam title since 2008, seeing her seed slip to 16th for this year's tournament.

Despite that, Serena sees her sister as the likely crowd favorite, and rightly so, per BBC Sport:

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I expect more people to be rooting for Venus. I would be rooting for Venus. She's been through so much. She's been so inspiring to me and to a lot of people with the same things that she goes through. She's just an incredible individual.

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Although Venus isn't the player she used to be, there is still an awful lot of championship experience on the line. Wimbledon's official Twitter account showcased the career successes of both Williams sisters:

Venus may be just three wins shy of tying her sister in head-to-head meetings, but it's been more lopsided than that lately. Serena has been victorious in each of the last two Grand Slam meetings, the last of which was the 2009 Wimbledon final.

Venus' form has been good enough to get to this point without much issue, but she won't have a chance against her sister—assuming Serena plays at the level she's capable of.

Prediction: Serena Williams wins, 6-4, 6-2

No. 1 Novak Djokovic vs. No. 14 Kevin Anderson

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

In an effort to make up for his shocking French Open final defeat to Stan Wawrinka, top-seeded Novak Djokovic has ripped through the opening week of Wimbledon to set up a fourth-round clash with 14th-seeded Kevin Anderson on Monday.

Djokovic's meeting with Anderson won't be on the Centre Court, but there's no lack of intrigue in this one. The Serbian hasn't lost a single set at Wimbledon, but he faces an opponent playing perhaps his best tennis, as Djokovic told Alyssia Varricchio of Live-Tennis.com:

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I think he (Anderson) is probably playing the tennis of his life all in all. He's reached the highest ranking now in his career. He keeps on going forward. I think he improved his movement and his game from the baseline. He always had a very good serve. I think it's going to be a game of very small margins that will be decided by a few points.

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The South African may be playing the best tennis of his career, but is it too far-fetched to say Djokovic is doing the same? Without a surprise upset to Wawrinka at Roland Garros, he, too, would be playing for the calendar-year Grand Slam, just like Serena Williams is.

It will take a majestic performance at this point to top Djokovic, especially at a setting like Wimbledon, where he's entrenched in success. Anderson will make Djokovic sweat in three tight sets, but that's all it will go.

Prediction: Djokovic wins, 7-6, 7-5, 6-3

No. 3 Andy Murray vs. No. 23 Ivo Karlovic

Tim Ireland/Associated Press

No. 3 seed and Wimbledon crowd favorite Andy Murray won't be facing your average No. 23 seed when he goes up against Ivo Karlovic in Monday's fourth-round play.

A wealth of experience isn't the only thing that the 36-year-old Karlovic brings to the table. He possesses one of the game's most powerful serves, having smashed 136 aces already in his three victories. Oh, and he's 6'11".

Regardless, Murray is ready for the challenge after dropping just one set in the first week. He made that clear on Twitter:

Karlovic has been dominating his opponents with his service thus far in the tournament, but that won't be the case Monday against Murray. The Great Britain native has perhaps the best return skill in the game, and he's used it to dispatch the biggest of serves in similar moments.

An unconventional test is just what Murray needs to fine-tune his game and get ready for a run at the title.

Prediction: Murray wins, 6-4, 2-6, 7-5, 6-3