And then there were four…Ashleigh Barty (+155), Aryna Sabalenka (+210), Angelique Kerber (+310) and Karolina Plíšková (+600). As you can see from the odds, it is a fairly open affair for which woman will lift the trophy in a couple of days time! So, if you like the look of any of these women to win the Championship, it is certainly worth putting a bet on.
Interestingly, all the women’s quarterfinals we won in straight sets, so all four women are coming into the semi finals will a lot of confidence. But we, like many, are hoping for some closer clashes this round. Who doesn’t love a bit of drama to spice things up? Enjoy our free tennis picks and predictions for each round of the 2021 Wimbledon tournament.
Ashleigh Barty (1) vs Angelique Kerber (25)
The world number one, Ashleigh Barty, will take on the former Wimbledon Champion in Angelique Kerber in the first women’s semi final clash. We have been following the world number one closely, and she hasn’t let the pressure of expecting to make it far in the tournament get to her, other than her tricky first round clash with Suárez Navarro, she has won all her other matches in straight sets.
Most recently, Barty absolutely dismantled the game of fellow Australian, Tomljanović, winning 6-1, 6-3. The pressure is sure to kick up another gear, especially considering this is the first time the Australian has made the semi final at Wimbledon. The injury concerns she faced at the French Open (which resulted in her retiring in the second round) seem to be a thing of the past. That’s good news if you are a Barty supporter, as she is going to need to be at full strength to take on Kerber!
Ashleigh Barty is booked into the #Wimbledon semifinals for the first time in her career! pic.twitter.com/gdF9Eqp6Kd
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) July 6, 2021
Kerber has outplayed the 20th and 19th seed to book herself a spot in the final four. On her way to the semi finals, she has dropped two sets. Looking back at the season Kerber has had as a whole this year, it has been a little bit of a mixed bag. She suffered first round losses at the Australian and French Open, but has certainly found her groove, making it all the way to the semis at Wimbledon.
The pair have played each other four times before, with the head-to-head currently split 2-2. Their most recent encounter was in 2018 at the Wuhan Open, where Barty managed to get the win in straight sets. Despite playing each other a handful of times, they have never met on a grass court before. Both players have great weapons, Barty has got her backhand slice, and Kerber has got her ability to turn defence into offence. But at the end of the day, we think Barty is in better form at the moment, and will have the skills to get the job done.
Tennis Pick: Match Winner – Ashleigh Barty (-235)
Aryna Sabalenka (2) vs Karolina Plíšková (8)
Second seeded Aryna Sabalenka will take on the eighth seed in Karolina Plíšková in the second women’s semi final. Sabalenka had a few bumps in the road en route to the semi finals, but she also put in a couple of dominant performances as well. Sabalenka has won titles this season on the clay and hard courts, but is yet to win one on the grass.
She has made the semi finals at a Grand Slam for the first time, which is back off her great form at the Eastbourne International, where she made the quaterfinals. In the past Sabalenka has battle with the pressure that comes with big games, but the pressure doesn’t have seemed to get to her…yet. As she enters the court for the semi final, she will know she is just won win away from her final Grand Slam final, and there is a lot of pressure that comes with that.
Yet to drop a set at this year’s Championships…
Karolina Pliskova with the upper hand in her quarter-final against Viktorija Golubic, winning the first 6-2#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/5JM3nhH74A
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 6, 2021
Plíšková has put in amazing performance after amazing performance at Wimbledon this year, and is yet to drop a set, in fact she was never even taken to a tie break, so she is the definition of not feeling the pressure! Plíšková didn’t have a good lead up to Wimbledon, but she seems to have found all her form, all at the right time. The former world number one will look to out hit Sabalenka to make it into the final.
The pair have played each other twice before, with Sabalenka leading that tally 2-0. Both players are aggressive baseline hitters, so it will kind of be like looking in a mirror for these two women. The thing that looks to set these women apart is their serve, Plíšková has been completely dominant, but Sabalenka has been a little shaky. Sabalenka needs to find her groove, and quickly, if she wants to stand a chance in this match. We are liking the look of an upset here!
Tennis Pick: Match Winner – Karolina Plíšková (+168)
If you are interested in more news for Wimbledon then make sure you visit our tennis hub page, we’ve got all the details you need!
*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.
