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

There are but two senior singles matches on Thursday as Wimbledon 2015 comes to a glorious close. The young Garbine Muguruza and her aggressive, vigorous playing style threaten to upend the established order in women's tennis. Muguruza will take on Agnieszka Radwanska, a refined grass-court player looking to return to the Wimbledon final after reaching it in 2012.

The other semifinal is a matchup between two masters of the game, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova.

Williams is looking for her fourth consecutive Grand Slam title, aka the "Serena Slam," while Sharapova will hope to survive her brilliant foe and get one step closer to again winning the tournament that launched her into global stardom way back in 2004. 

Here's the Thursday singles' schedule, followed by predictions and a deeper preview for the semifinal matchups.

Matchup	Court	Time (ET)	TV	Prediction
No. 20 Garbine Muguruza vs. No. 13 Agnieszka Radwanska	Centre Court	8 a.m.	ESPN	Muguruza in three
No. 1 Serena Williams vs. No. 4 Maria Sharapova	Centre Court	8 a.m.	ESPN	Williams in three

Complete Thursday order of play can be found at Wimbledon.com. Live streams available at WatchESPN and Wimbledon.com.

No. 20 Garbine Muguruza vs. No. 13 Agnieszka Radwanska

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

In general, 20th seeds aren't supposed to be in Wimbledon semifinals. That goes extra for 21-year-old low seeds like Muguruza, who by her own admission, is surprised that her best Grand Slam performance yet has come on in the one with grass courts.

“I’m surprised that my first semifinals is on grass,” said Muguruza, via the New York Times' Ben Rothenberg. “But I think I’m playing really good. I think the surface helps me.”

Muguruza has fared much better on clay, yet she's rampaged through this tournament, dispatching illustrious foes like Caroline Wozniacki in the process. The Guardian's Jacob Steinberg notes just how surprising her run at the All England Club really is:

"

When Muguruza renewed her relationship with grass in Birmingham last month, Rybarikova thumped her 6-3, 6-1 and the 21-year-old Spaniard was probably anticipating another speedy exit at Wimbledon. She moved on to Eastbourne, hoping for better, and the world No20 was on the wrong end of an upset against Britain’s Johanna Konta in the third round. Muguruza was just another in the long line of Spanish players who could not adapt to grass; that queue would stretch all the way from the front gates of the All England Club to Southfields tube station.

"

And yet here she is, young, fresh and willing to challenge players right up at the net with a sound serve-and-volley approach. Against Timea Bacsinszky in the quarterfinals, Muguruza won 14 of 22 net points, per Wimbledon.com. Facing Wozniacki, she won 23 of 28 net points.

Alastair Grant/Associated Press

Radwanska is well-equipped for grass-court play, and has the experience of a deep Wimbledon run to draw upon for this tournament. She's 2-2 against the young Spaniard, but all of those matches have come on hard courts, per WTATennis.com. 

Her ability to stay calm and finish out rallies was key to her win over Madison Keys in the quarters. Radwanska hit just seven unforced errors in that match, while Keys smacked 40, per Wimbledon.com.

Radwanska will have to hope Muguruza returns to her shakier ways on Thursday, while controlling her serves and forcing deep rallies. If she can prey on Muguruza's inexperience on grass and force her into some tough situations, she should be able to pull this one out. Either way, it won't be easy.

Prediction: Radwanska in three

No. 1 Serena Williams vs. No. 4 Maria Sharapova

Tim Ireland/Associated Press

Williams is a proud 17-2 all time against Sharapova. The Russian star hasn't beaten Williams since 2004. The first victory was that famous Wimbledon 2004 final, the second a hard-court win in the final of the Tour Championships in Los Angeles. Since then, it's been all Serena, 16 matches, rain or shine, hard court, grass or clay.

The last time these two met was in the 2015 Australian Open final. Williams took it in two sets, 6-3, 7-6 (5). Despite the long, frustrating streak of futility, Sharapova is optimistic ahead of the semifinal.

"I think it's always a new match," she said, per BBC Sport. "I haven't had great success against her. I would love to change that around. That's how I look at it."

Pavel Golovkin/Associated Press

Sharapova also said there were "no secrets" between the two of them when it comes to their respective abilities on court. That may sound somewhat comforting for Sharapova fans, but Williams is just as likely to unlock Sharapova before she can do the same to her on Thursday. 

Williams has stumbled every so slightly in this tournament run, dropping sets to Victoria Azarenka and Great Britain's Heather Watson in the quarterfinals and third round, respectively. But her overall form is impeccable considering she's on the verge of winning a fourth straight Slam and could even win all four this year if she wins two more at the All England Club and maintains her form in the U.S. Open.

Sharapova is 29-6 on the year with two singles titles, so she's had a fine year in her own right, but it's nothing like what Williams is doing.

She's certainly the more powerful player, knocking in 55 aces to Sharapova's 15. Sharapova can play the entire back line well, but so can Williams, who will simply win too many easy points on her serve for Sharapova to keep up.

Prediction: Williams in two