Wimbledon Smashtalk: Is Venus one to watch?

Well, where do we begin with a dramatic day four at Wimbledon?

Bethanie Mattek-Sands’ horrific knee injury made headlines, almost overshadowing the unexpected exit of title favourite Karolina Pliskova.

Novak Djokovic seems to be fastly regaining top form, while Roger Federer continues to cruise.

What did the #Smashtalk team make of it all? Paul Moore, Vivienne Christie, Matt Trollope and Leigh Rogers share their thoughts…

Who was the biggest winner on day four?

Paul Moore: Dominic Thiem. The Austrian looked shaky coming into this tournament, but has picked up a couple of wins against two tricky opponents. I’m regretting the decision to drop him from my fantasytennisleague.com team!

Vivienne Christie: After dispatching Victor Estrella Burgos for his first tour win since June 2016, Ernests Gulbis took it next level when he stunned Juan Martin del Potro in the second round. Intensely focused throughout, the often-erratic Latvian tallied 44 brilliant winners and 25 aces. Novak Djokovic would be right to be nervous ahead of their surprise third round.

Matt Trollope: Angelique Kerber. The world No.1 navigated a tricky test in the form of 2013 Wimbledon semifinalist Kirsten Flipkens and appears to be, slowly but surely, rediscovering some semblance of the form that made last year’s stunning season possible. This result will have been a confidence booster.

Leigh Rogers: Agnieszka Radwanska. The Pole is having a terrible season, derailed by injuries and dipping confidence, but saving two match points to beat Christina McHale could well prove to be a major turning point. Even if it is not, it is a timely confidence boost for the grass-loving 2012 finalist.

RELATED: Wimbledon day four wrap 

Who was the biggest loser on day four?

PM: Karolina Pliskova was the big loser on day four. With a game suited to grass, the Czech was supposed to come to Wimbledon and cruise to the title – and the world No.1 spot. Going out to Rybarikova wasn’t just disappointing, it was a disaster.

VC: Sadly, Czech women. Apart from Karolina Pliskova’s baffing inability to reach Wimbledon’s third round, it was a heart-wrenching day for Lucie Safarova, who was visibly distressed as she watched doubles partner Bethanie Mattek-Sands stretchered off the court with a serious knee injury.  Safarova subsequently lost in three sets to Shelby Rogers and Denisa Allertova was the third Czech woman to exit on day four.

MT: Bethanie Mattek-Sands. The likeable American suffered a sickening knee injury of which the aftermath was difficult to watch. Promptly retired from both the singles and doubles at Wimbledon, an even bigger shame considering how well she was playing. Hopefully she’s able to bounce back from it as quickly as possible, and will no doubt take heart from the outpouring of support she’s received from fellow players.

LR: Jack Sock. The No.17-seeded American is a Wimbledon doubles champion, so how he lost to Austrian Sebastian Ofner, a 21-year-old ranked No.216 who before this week had never played a professional match on grass or even an ATP-level event, is simply perplexing.

READ MORE: Pliskova upset by Rybarikova

What is the must-watch match of day five?

PM: I would love to watch Benoit Paire v Jerzy Janowicz. No, not because of the quality of the tennis, but because of the personalities of the men. Expect fireworks, expect tantrums, expect penalties to be applied post-match.

VC: Venus Williams is 17 years older and has contested 19 more Wimbledons than Naomi Osaka, who is making her main draw debut. But one commonality is their fierce competitive spirits, as the 20-year-old showed in her upset of 22^nd seed Barbora Strycova in round two. Expect another entertaining show in Osaka’s first match with the five-time champ.

MT: Naomi Osaka v Venus Williams. Two incredible athletes with explosive serving and shot making – only at opposite ends of the age spectrum. The game’s present and future will go head-to-head on No.1 Court

LR: Jelena Ostapenko v Camila Giorgi. Both boast powerful and aggressive games well-suited to grass, and when they are in their zone are almost untouchable. Expect a flurry of winners and unforced errors – and not many (if any!) rallies in this match.

SOCIAL WRAP: Wimbledon day four

Who should be on upset alert on day five?

PM: Bye, bye Simona Halep. Peng Shuai is going to cause the Romanian all sorts of bother tomorrow, and I think this might be the end of the road for the aspiring No.1.

VC: Fabio Fognini earned his draw destroyer reputation when he stunned Rafael Nadal at the 2015 US Open. And Andy Murray knows the danger all too well, after a loss to the Italian in their last match at Rome. That upset will fuel Murray’s motivation; but into Wimbledon’s third round for only the third time in nine appearances, Fognini is also capable of another career peak.

MT: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Does it count as an upset if the 24th seed beats the 12th? If it does, then yes, I see Sam Querrey (the No.24 in this equation) getting the better of a streaky Tsonga. Querrey last year beat then-No.1 Novak Djokovic at this stage of the tournament and has the serve, shots, experience and big-match confidence to pull off another big win for the second straight year at SW19.

LR: Elina Svitolina. The No.4 seed has a tough match against in-form German Carina Witthoeft. This is her first meeting with the world No.65 who has a powerful and maturing game well-suited to grass.

Do you agree or disagree with our panel? Have your say on Facebook and Twitter using #SmashTalk.