Elina Svitolina vs Marketa Vondrousova Prediction & Betting Tips - Women's Olympic Tournament

Prediction published on 28/07/2021, 17:36  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 28/07/2021 at 19:23 in Tennis Predictions

Elena Svitolina is the highest seed left in the women's singles at the Tokyo Olympics. The Ukranian fourth seed takes on unseeded Marketa Vondrousova for a place in the final against either Elena Rybakina or Belinda Bencic. Svitolina has never been in a Grand Slam final and hasn't been in any title decider since September 2020. The world number six is in her third semi-final of the year, the others being in Miami and Stuttgart. There's no Ashleigh Barty to stop her getting to the final this time as before. The 2016 Olympics saw her get to the last eight but now she has a chance of getting a medal. Even if she loses this match, there's a Bronze Medal play-off to play. Wins this week have come against Laura Siegemund, Ajla Tomljanovic, Maria Sakkari and Camila Giorgi. Only the latter didn't go to three sets. Svitolina has won three of her four previous matches against Vondrousova. The first three were won but the most recent was last year on clay in Rome and won by Vondrousova.

World number 42 Marketa Vondrousova has just one WTA title to her name. That was four years ago in Switzerland but two years ago the Czech made it to the French Open final. Since then, she's failed to make it past the fourth round of a Grand Slam. This is her second semi-final of the year, the other being in the Yarra Valley classic six months ago. She did manage to get to the last sixteen at both the Australian and French Opens. In Tokyo, Vondrousova has ad wins over Kiki Bertens, Mihaela Buzarnescu, second seeded Naomi Osaka and then in the last eight, Paula Badosa. Vondrousova won the first set but then her opponent retired suffering from heat stroke. Go for Svitolina to get the win here, though it might take three sets to get the victory.