Danka Kovinic vs Ons Jabeur Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Charleston Open

Prediction published on 10/04/2021, 07:59  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 10/04/2021 at 09:03 in Tennis Predictions

There have been plenty of shocks in this tournament and none of the top 11 seeds have made it to the last four. 12th seed Ons Jabeur has though and she takes on unseeded Danka Kovinic in the first semi-final. Jabeur hadn't reached a quarter final this year before her success this week. There had been signs of improved form in last week's Miami Open. The world number 28 knocked out fourth seeded Sofia Kenin before losing to Sara Sorribes Torma in three sets in the last 16. Her improved form has continued here with four good wins and only one set dropped. Her quarter final saw a straight sets victory over Coco Gauff. A win here will end the long wait for her second ATP Tour final. Her only previous one was in the Kremlin Cup in 2018 when losing a three-setter to Daria Kasatkina.

Danka Kovinic is the world 91 but will climb into the top 75 after this week. It's been a good week for her with more matches won here than she had all year. She's only had a couple of victories in 2021 before this event. Kovinic is probably still having nightmares over her Australian Open appearance where she lost 6-0 6-0 to Ashleigh Barty in the first round. It's been a much improved performance here though she had to go to three sets in the second round to beat Leylah Annie Fernandez. The third round saw her defeat third seed Petra Kvitova, winning the first set and 4-1 up in the second before her opponent retired. Kvitova tends to do that a lot these days. The quarter final wasn't at all easy for Kovinic, dropping the first set to 11th seeded Yulia Putinsteva but recovering to knock her out of the tournament. This is her first semi-final since a tournament in China in November 2019 but no top 250 players were beaten in that event. The pair have only had one previous meeting, that was three years ago and Jabeur won for the loss of just three games. It should be a bit closer this time but Jabeur can be backed to reach the final.