Leylah Annie Fernandez vs Ons Jabeur Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Birmingham

Prediction published on 16/06/2021, 10:18  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 16/06/2021 at 11:19 in Tennis Predictions

Second seeded Ons Jabeur takes on unseeded Leylah Fernanez for a place in the last eight of the Birmingham Classic. The winner of this match faces either Kristina Mladenovic or Anastasia Potapova in the last eight. Jabeur is the world number 24 and rose two places after the French Open where she made it to the last sixteen being beaten by Cori Gauff. 24th is her highest ever ranking but going deep in this tournament could see her climb up a place. Jabeur hasn't had a spectacular year but has had a  win over world number four Sofia Kenin. Her best form has come on clay in Charleston. The first tournament held there saw her get to the last four and in the other, she lost in the final to Astra Sharma, who was ranked 165th at the time. 2019 saw her reach the last four in the Eastbourne Grass Court Championships beating Johanna Konta before having to withdraw with a right ankle injury.

Leylah Fernandez is the world number 66, her highest ever ranking. The 18-year-old began 2021 ranked 88th and owes much of her rise to a win in a WTA 250 event in Mexico beating Viktorija Golubic in the final. The highest ranked player beaten that week was Sara Sorribes Tormo who was 57th at the time. Every other player beaten was ranked outside the top 100. It's been rather uneventful since then and she lost in the last 64 at Roland Garros. The first round of this tournament saw her defeat Wang Yafan in straight sets. Fernandez has only had one previous match against Jabeur. That was in Cincinnati last year and she lost in three sets, despite taking the first without conceding a game.  Go for Jabeur to get the win in straight sets.