Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova vs Tamara Zidansek Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA French Open

Prediction published on 09/06/2021, 12:05  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 09/06/2021 at 13:05 in Tennis Predictions

Tamara Zidansek faces Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the last four of the Roland Garros women's singles. Anyone who predicted that before the tournament is either an absolute genius or a time traveller. Zidansek began this tournament at 85th in the rankings. If she does win the French Open, she'll beat Iga Swiatek's record of the lowest ranked player to win the title during the open era.  Zidansek is 47th in the live rankings and beating Pavlyuchenkova would take her to 32nd and a possible seeding at Wimbledon. Earlier this year she took a set off world number one Ashleigh Barty on clay in Madrid. This is her first time past the second round of a Grand Slam. Her best form is on clay with two WTA Main Tour finals reached but neither were won. On the ITF circuit she reached 18 finals, winning 14 of them. Zidansek has beaten sixth seeded Bianca Andreescu (9-7 in the final set), Madison Brengle, Katerina Siniakova, Sorana Cirstea and 33rd seed Paula Badosa in the last four, 8-6 in the third set.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova has been rolling back the years at Roland Garros. It was in 2011 that the Russian reached the last eight and it took ten years for her to do it again. Back in 2011, Pavlyuchenkova was ranked 11th, she started this tournament 32nd but is up to 22 in the live rankings. Win this match and she'll be back in the top 20. After six previous Grand Slam quarter finals, she finally won one when defeating Elena Rybakina after losing the first set. The 29-year-old has had a series of wins this year over players in the top 25. In this tournament she's beaten third seeded Aryna Sabalenka, Victoria Azarenka (15th) and then Rybakina. Back her to get through to the final, it may take three sets though.