Ekaterina Alexandrova vs Ons Jabeur Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Mutua Madrid Open

Prediction published on 04/05/2022, 11:14  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 04/05/2022 at 17:18 in Tennis Predictions

Ons Jabeur is seeded eighth for the Madrid Masters but is the highest one left in the draw. The Tunisian takes on qualifier Ekaterina Alexandrova in the semi-final. Whoever reaches the final will meet either 12th seeded Jessica Pegula or unseeded Jill Tiechmann. Jabeur is world ranked 10th but up to eighth in the live rankings, just one place below her career high. Jabeur had made it to three quarter finals this year before the clay court season began. She got off to a good start when the clay season did commence and lost in the final in Charleston. That was followed by a quarter final in Stuttgart in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. Her consistent form has continued in Madrid with wins over Jasmine Paolini in straight sets, before beating Varvara Gracheva and 11th seed Belinda Bencic in three sets. The last eight saw her beat Simona Halep (who had beaten both Paula Badosa and Cori Gauff) in straight sets.

Ekaterina Alexandrova was ranked 45th at the start of this tournament. Her run to the last four has seen her rise to 31st in the live rankings, six places below her career high. The Russian had to qualify to get into the main draw of this tournament. Both of her matches were won in straight sets with ten games lost. She caused a big upset in the first round when beating tenth seeded Jelena Ostapenko in three sets. Then a win over Nuria Parrizas Dias came without a set being dropped. With the seeds being knocked out, Alexandrova took on qualifer Marie Bouzkova in the last 16 and came from behind to get a three set win. The quarter finals saw her up against another unseeded player with a win coming over Amanda Anisimova in straight sets. These two players have met on seven previous occasions and Alexandrova has won six of them!  The only match in the past four years saw the Russian 6-1 1-0 up before Jabeur retired. The Tunisian is much better form now though and can get the win here.