The 2019 WTA Tour continues with Elina Svitolina taking on Simona Halep and Serena Williams facing Barbora Strycova in the Wimbledon Ladies Semi Final Matches. Check out our full betting preview below.
WTA Tour 2019
Wimbledon Championships
All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
Women’s Semi-Finals- 11th July
Elina Svitolina (8) (33/20) vs Simona Halep (7) (4/10)
Though both of these players are amongst the seeds, there is something rather surprising about both of them. Elina Svitolina has reached her first ever Grand Slam semi-final and has looked far from assured along the way. She struggled in parts against the young Muchova while Sakkari pushed her all the way. But the Ukrainian has overcome adversity and has used the biggest stage in the sport to overturn a horrendous run of form. Svitolina started the year solidly, with semi-finals in Qatar, Dubai and Indian Wells. But a veritable tidal wave of first round exits were to follow, including opening round exits in Eastbourne and Birmingham. She has benefited from a fairly favourable draw but will need to up her game against an extremely familiar opponent.
Clearly last year’s Roland Garros Champion is a regular Grand Slam fixture. But her performances on grass have often underwhelmed, with only one previous Wimbledon semi-final to her name. But the pugnacious Romanian has probably been the most impressive lady thus far. She dropped one set against compatriot Buzarnescu, but aside from that she has been serene. She even put a stop to the Coco Gauff narrative, which was really an encounter that Halep would have lost five years back. Halep’s year has been solid, but no title thus far means that 2019 will feel quite hollow for the former World Number One. It will be interesting to see how Halep handles the pressure now that we have reached this juncture. She has a propensity for the odd implosion on the big stage, and perhaps her status as the favourite will count against her.
These two are certainly no strangers to each other, as this will be the 9th time that they have met. Remarkably enough, the spoils are shared at four wins apiece. However, this will be the first time the two have ever met on grass. It’s quite a strange one to call considering that both players are perhaps most uncomfortable on grass. Halep is the clear favourite and it’s reflected in the odds. A Halep victory in three is probably the best value at 28/10, but I think she should win in straight sets. Muchova really pushed Svitolina in moments with her power, and Halep should outgun her.
Serena Williams (11) (1/4) vs Barbora Strycova (26/10)
This represents a clash between the ultimate known quantity and the enigmatic outlier. What more can be said about Serena Williams that hasn’t been said already? She has moved through the gears this year without seeming all that into it. It actually looks to me that she is enjoying her time in the Mixed Doubles alongside Andy Murray far more. But here we are. I think she has taken advantage of a decimated half of the draw. But the seven time champion can taste it now and will be keen to avenge that straight sets defeat to Angelique Kerber last year. This is unbelievably going to be her 37th Grand Slam Semi-Final. And in Barbora Strycova she faces an enemy of considerable grit.
Barbora Strycova has been long been a double’s specialist on tour. The winner of 25 titles on the double’s circuit was certainly not the Czech star many envisaged at this stage. Petra Kvitova would have been the first name on people’s lips. Then Karolina Pliskova. But the 33 year-old has defied expectations with a wonderfully dexterous brand of tennis that has caught many off guard. Doing a bit of gumshoe work shows proves that Strycova has grass-court aptitude. She has twice been a beaten finalist in the Birmingham Classic. She’s had a schizophrenic season, with semi-final showings in Istanbul, Prague and Birmingham. But amongst that there have been a litany of first round exits. Beating Johanna Konta in front of such a highly partisan crowd showed that she shouldn’t be overawed by anyone.
This will be their 4th ever meeting, with the legendary Williams leading the head-to-head emphatically at 3-0. That includes a victory on grass. Their last meeting was a straight sets victory for Williams at the 2017 Aussie Open: Williams would ultimately go on to win that Aussie Open. In fact, that was the last title of any description that the prolific American has captured. Strycova will be looking to frustrate Williams with her canny mix of sliced drop shots and regulation baselining. She will also be hoping that Williams’ decision to join Andy Murray backfires as the week progresses. I think a Williams’s victory in three sets at 11/4 looks great value, especially considering the way Williams has drifted in and out of matches.
Written by Damien Kayat for Hollywoodbets
