Anett Kontaveit vs Jelena Ostapenko Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Eastbourne International

Prediction published on 25/06/2021, 16:55  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 25/06/2021 at 18:30 in Tennis Predictions

The Eastbourne International has been another women's singles tournament full of surprises. Not one seed made it through to the last four, let alone the final. Former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko takes on Annet Kontaveit in the final. Ostapenko was ranked fifth at one time but the combination of those points expiring and a drop in form saw her tumble down the rankings. She began this week in 43rd but will be back in the top 40 when the next ranking list is published. This is the first time she's got past the last eight of a tournament since becoming Luxembourg Open champion in October 2019. A wild card was needed to play in this event and she's certainly made the most of it. Wins have come against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Ons Jabeur, Anastasija Sevastova and in the last four, Elena Rybakina was beaten in straight sets.

Anett Kontaveit had an easier time on Friday afternoon. The world number 27 took on Camila Giorgi and was 5-4 up in the first set when her opponent retired due to an injury to her left thigh. The Estonian will hope this final gets played, that didn't happen in Australia's Grampian Trophy due to health reasons. Both Grand Slams this year saw her lose in the last 32. A win here would be her second ATP grass court title, the other being four years ago in the Netherlands. A couple of years before that, she'd won the Eastbourne Trophy. This week has seen her beat Svetlana Kuznetsova, third seed Bianca Andreescu and Viktrorija Golubic (three sets needed) and then the brief match against Giorgi.   Kontaveit has won both previous meetings against Ostapenko but the last of those was three years ago, the other on grass in 2015 when Ostapenko was only 18 and ranked 144th. A close final could be on the cards here but Ostapenko looks in the better form and can get the win.