Shuai Zhang vs Dayana Yastremska Prediction & Betting Tips - Lyon, France, Qualifying

Prediction published on 05/03/2022, 17:15  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 05/03/2022 at 18:50 in Tennis Predictions

Emotions may be running high in the final of the Lyon Open. Eighth seeded Zhang Shuai takes on unseeded Ukranian. Dayana Yastremska  Only last week, Yastremska left Ukraine after spending a couple of nights sheltering in an underground car park in Odessa. Now the world number 140 (up to 103 in the live rankings) is in her first WTA Tour final since losing to Ashleigh Barty in Adelaide in January 2020. The Ukranian was ranked as high as 21st two years ago and has won three tour titles, including one in France. Her ranking slumped last year after being suspended for failing a drugs test but that was lifted in June with "no fault or negligence" on her part.  Yastremska lost in the first round of the Australian Open this year but returned to form in Dubai last month. Three qualifying matches had to be won (including beaten the then world number 33 Clara Tauson) and then she made it to the quarter fnal, beating Barbora Krejcikova on the way,before losing to Marketa Vondrousova. After finally making it to France and given a wild card, the Ukranian nearly lost to Ana Bogdan in the first round. The first set was lost but Yastremska won the next two sets via tie-breaks. The last two rounds have seen her beat fifth seeded Yasmine Piolini and second seed Sorana Cirstea without losing a set.

Zhang Shuai is the world number 64 but unlikely to have that many fans cheering for her in this final. The Chinese player was as high as 23rd six years ago and is up to 48th in the live rankings. A win in this final will take her up to 41st. Shuai reached the third round at the Australian Open this year, after beginning the year with losses in both Melbourne and Sydney. Two more losses followed in St Petersburg and Dubai before qualifying for the main draw in Doha and losing in the first round to qualifer Aliaksandra Sasnovich, winning just two games. Better form has been show in Lyon and she has reached the final without losing a set. It's not been the toughest of draws though with no seeded players faced and in the last eight, her opponent retired after just three games. A win in this final would be her first WTA Tour victory since 2017 and only her second since 2013. It'd also be the first WTA title won outside China. Two previous meetings have been shared and this is their first match since 2019. Yastremska can be backed to win this,having shown far better form this week.