Tennis
2008-07-01 - Wimbledon- Day 8 vs
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Women's Quarter Finals
Elena Dementieva v Nadia Petrova
Dementieva is the highest seed left in the Women's draw this year as we have seen Ivanovic, Jankovic, Sharapova and Kuznetsova all fall away before this stage of the tournament. Dementieva had some real struggles in the first 3 rounds, 2 of those matches needing a final set decider, but she comfortably beat Shahar Peer in the last round for the loss of just 3 games.
Dementieva has been one of the most consistent performers in the Women's game in recent seasons but she would dearly love to add a Grand Slam to her CV after being a 2 time runner up. Her record at Wimbledon shows her best result was a QF 2 years ago but she has consistently reached the 2nd week of the tournament.
Petrova has hit some form on the grass courts during the last couple of weeks with a final appearance in Eastbourne and breezing through the first 4 rounds here without dropping a set.
Petrova also has a previous best of a QF defeat here, and like Dementieva, she usually is good value to reach the 2nd week at Wimbledon.
The 2 players have met 11 times previously, and Petrova holds the edge 7-4. However, Dementieva has won 4 of the last 6 meetings although 1 was a walkover and 1 ended early thanks to an injury for Petrova.
They have met 2 times on grass before and Petrova managed to win both of those games. Petrova has also won 2 of the last 3 matches that have been completed.
This should be a fascinating match and I have a little feeling that the highest seed left in the draw shall be no more.
PETROVA in 2 sets.
Venus Williams v Tamerine Tagasugarn
Venus Williams is now the outright favourite to win this tournament and there is a strong chance that she will face her sister Serena in the final after all the other challengers came crashing down before this stage could commence. This week Venus has been prone to making a lot of unforced errors during her matches but she is still to drop a set as she looks to defend her title.
Williams' pedigree at this tournament does not need to be outlined again but a brief history shows her as the 4 time Champion and the currently defending Champion.
Tagasugarn has slipped under the radar on her way to this Quarter Final but made splashes in the last round by comfortably beating Jankovic in straight sets. She has already dropped 2 sets in this tournament.
Tagasugarn has a strong grass court game and she comes in after winning a tournament in Holland last week on the surface. This is her best result at Wimbledon to date, but she has had a number of losses in the 4th round of the tournament.
Williams and Tagasugarn have met 6 times previously, with Venus winning all 6 matches and all in straight sets. The most games Tagasugarn has managed to win in any of those contests is 6 and their last meeting saw Venus win 6-4 6-1 on a hard court.
I think Tagasugarn has had a memorable tournament as her career winds down but I truly believe Venus will have too much and come through here.
VENUS WILLIAMS in 2 sets
Agnieska Radwanska v Serena Williams
In my mind this is the tie of this stage of the Women's competition and should be a real test for Williams.
Radwanska is a former Wimbledon Juniors Champion here and could gain a measure of revenge for her younger sister who was beaten by Serena in straight sets earlier in the tournament. Radwanska has only dropped 1 set so far in the tournament, and that came yesterday to Kuznetsova.
Radwanska also recently won the tournament at Eastbourne on this surface but Serena will be her toughest test on this surface. This year is Radwanska's best achievement at Wimbledon in her young career but she has made the 4th round and the 3rd round previously.
Serena is another player whose record speaks for herself as the former 2 time Champion here. She has come through each round fairly comfortably, without dropping a set, and that includes a routine win over Amelie Mauresmo in round 3.
Serena will be worried by the fact that she has failed to progress beyond this stage of Wimbledon in either of the last 2 seasons, but I think she is one of the most mentally tough players on tour and I cannot see that affecting her too much.
These 2 players have met only once before, and that was recently at a clay court event in Berlin. On that occasion, it was Serena who came out on top with a 6-3 6-1 victory.
I think this will be a tough challenge for Serena tomorrow and I would not be surprised if it went to a deciding set but it might be a case of 1 tight set and if Serena wins that, then 1 easier set for her to deal with. Serena is a real fighter and the handicap looks like something she may be able to cover as she exploits Radwanska's lack of experience at this level.
SERENA WILLIAMS in 2 sets
Jie Zheng v Nicola Vaidisova
This is a surprising Quarter Final, but Zheng should be full of confidence as she was the one who took out the number 1 seed Ana Ivanovic with relative ease. She is yet to drop a set in this tournament and this is all the more surprising when considring that Zheng did not take part in any warm up events in preparation.
Zheng had previously failed to make it beyond the 3rd round here in her previous 2 attempts but defeats to Kim Clijsters and Serena Williams are not to be sniffed at. This year, however, Zheng has knocked out 3 seeded players to make this stage of the tournament.
Vaidisova has somehow found some form in this tournament after having a lean year so far after good things were expected from here. This week she has come through two 3 set matches and she found the heart to come back from a set down yesterday to defeat Anna Chakvetadze.
Vaidisova did not have the best preparation for this event with defeats to Olga Govortsova and Bethanie Mettak in warm up tournaments but she has been steadily improving here at Wimbledon. In her last 3 appearances she has reached the 3rd round, 4th round and the Quarter Final and would expect to improve again this year and begin moving back up the World Rankings.
The 2 players have met 3 times previously and Vaidisova has won all 3 matches. 2 of the victories came on hard courts but the last meeting saw Vaidisova win it in 3 sets on a clay court albeit 2 years ago.
I cant look beyond Vaidisova here. Zheng has had a great tournament and far exceeded expectations and she should make a big move up the rankings, but Vaidisova has shown real fight to come through some tough matches and I expect her to progress here.
VAIDISOVA in 2 sets
BEST BETTING TIP :
Petrova win @ 2.22 (PinnacleSports)Vaidisova win @ 1.77 (PinnacleSports)
Venus Williams - 5.5 games
Serena Williams - 3.5 games
