Anett Kontaveit vs Jelena Ostapenko Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Finals

Prediction published on 24/02/2022, 13:20  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 24/02/2022 at 15:53 in Tennis Predictions

We have a real cracker of a semi-final in the Qatar Total Open. Fourth seeded Anett Kontaveit takes on the 15th seed Jelena Ostapenko. The winner of this match takes on either Iga Swiatek or Maria Sakkari in the final. These two players are both in excellent form with one tournament win each so far in 2022. Jelena Ostapenko is up to 12th in the live rankings and can move up another place if beating Kontaveit. In terms of ranking points earned this year, only Ashleigh Barty, Iga Swiatek and Danielle Collins have earned more than Ostapenko. Last week saw her win the Dubai Tennis Championships and before that lost in the semi-finals in St Petersburg, losing to her opponent in this match. So far in Doha, Ostapenko has beaten Oceane Dodin, Amanda Anisimova (in three sets), second seeded Barbora Krejcikova and in her quarter final, the fifth seed Garbine Muguruza. Both those seeds were beaten in straight sets.

Anett Kontaveit is up to fifth in the live rankings and can climb up to fourth if winning this match. The fourth seed is chasing her sixth WTA Tour title since last August. This year has already seen her win in St Petersburg beating Maria Sakkari and we could see a repeat of that final this weekend. Her main target this year must be to improve her record in Grand Slam events. Kontaveit lost in the second round of the Australian Open this year and has still only reached one quarter final. This week has seen her in the form she'd like to show in those Grand Slam events. Wins have come against Ana Konjuh, 16th seeded Elise Mertens (despite losing the second set 6-0) and then in her quarter final eighth seeded Ons Jabeur for the loss of just five games. Kontaveit has won three of her four previous matches against Ostapenko with the only loss to her on grass at Eastbourne last year. Go for her to win this match but it may well take three sets to do so.