Paula Badosa vs Marketa Vondrousova Prediction & Betting Tips - Women's Olympic Tournament

Prediction published on 27/07/2021, 08:52  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 27/07/2021 at 11:16 in Tennis Predictions

An unseeded player will be in the semi-finals of the Olympic Women's Singles tournament. Paula Badosa of Spain takes on Marketa Vondrousova from the Czech Republic. The winner faces either Elena Svitolina or Camila Giorgi in the last four. Badosa is at a highest ever ranking of 29th at present, though no ranking points are up for grabs in this tournament. The Spaniard ended last year, ranked 70th so it's already been a good year for her. Badosa is 14th when it comes to ranking points earned this year, compared to 35th for Vondrousova. Semi-finals have been reached in Lyon, Charleston (where she beat both Ashleigh Barty and Belinda Bencic), Madrid (where Bencic was again beaten but Barty got  her revenge) and then winning the Serbia Ladies Open. Badosa got to the last eight at Roland Garros but it's not all been success on clay courts as the Spaniard made it to the last 16 at Wimbledon. This week has seen her come from a set down to beat Katerina Mladenovic, sixth seeded Iga Swiatek and Nadia Podoroska. Badosa has had one previous meeting with her opponent, beating her in straight sets at Roland Garros this year.

Marketa Vondrousova caused a massive shock in the third round when beating second seeded Naomi Osaka. The Czech has slipped down the rankings to 42nd after being 20th earlier in the year. Vondrousova has only won one WTA tournament, that was in Switzerland four years ago. Her greatest achievement remains getting to the final of the 2019 French Open, the only time she's got past the fourth round of a Grand Slam. This year has seen Vondrousova get to the semi-final of the Yarra Valley Classic in January, the last 16 of the Australian Open and Roland Garros (losing to Badosa) and the last 64 at Wimbledon, where she was beaten by Emma Radcanu, who was ranked outside the top 300 at the time. In Tokyo, Kiki Bertens and Mihaela Buzarnescu have also been beaten by the Czech. This is going to be a fascinating match, both players having already caused major upsets. Go for Badosa to get the win, possibly going to three sets to do so.