Wimbledon Picks Thursday 07/11
And so the women’s singles move on to the semi finals at this year’s Championships. Wimbledon is where legends are forged and four women have their sights on writing their names in history and on to the famous winners’ board at SW19. These two matches should be among the best we have witnessed so far this summer. Here are four tips for the Wimbledon semi finals.
Serena Williams v Barbora Strycova
Wimbledon women’s singles semi finals, Thursday July 11
There were doubts around Serena Williams ahead of Wimbledon this year. The American had struggled for fitness in the weeks prior to the start of the tournament and a couple of early turbulent performances at SW19 backed up the idea that she might toil in making the latter rounds. But Williams has improved with every match and now looks like the player we know her to be.
She was pushed all the way by Alison Riske in the quarter finals, with the American underdog breaking Williams no fewer than five times over the course of the three-setter. Of course, Williams is the favourite for this semi final having won 11 of her last 12 matches on grass. She has also won 31 of her 36 career Grand Slam semi finals.
Barbora Strycova played the match of her life against Johanna Konta in the quarter finals to make it this far. The Czech won 67% of her first serve points and a massive 74% of her second serve points. She will need that sort of certainty on serve if she is to stand any chance against Williams, the best returner in the women’s game.
2.5u - Back Serena Williams To Win @ -333
0.5u - Back Barbora Strycova First Set Winner @ +220
Elina Svitolina v Simona Halep
Wimbledon women’s singles semi finals, Thursday July 11
As the highest ranked player left in the tournament, there’s a case to be made that Simona Halep is the favourite to win the women’s singles at Wimbledon this year. She had to fight to get past Zhang Shuai in the quarter finals, but that’s one of the Romanian’s best qualities - fight. She wasn’t about to let that match get beyond her.
This is the second time that Halep has made the Wimbledon semi finals and her experience as a proven contender at the top of the women’s game should give her an edge. On the other side of the net, this is the first time that Elina Svitolina has made the final four at SW19. Will that relative inexperience prove to be a factor on Centre Court with the tennis world watching?
However, it’s worth keeping in mind that Svitolina has a winning record against Halep, winning four of the six matches the pair have played against each other. Halep did win the most recent meeting at the Qatar Open earlier this season, though. Svitolina won 50% of her return points against Karolina Muchova in the last round. A percentage like that against Halep would be helpful to her cause.
1.5u - Back Simona Halep To Win 2-0 @ +114
0.5u - Back Under 8.5 First Set Games @ +197