Donna Vekic v Jasmine Paolini: Prediction, Tips and Odds

Having been runner-up at the French Open last month, Jasmine Paolini is eyeing another Grand Slam final at Wimbledon and she starts as a strong favourite in her semi-final clash with Donna Vekic.

Paolini is the world number seven, which is 30 places above the unseeded Croatian Vekic in the rankings, with the 28-year-old Italian very much a late bloomer on the WTA Tour.

She has not looked back since claiming her second career title in February - in November last year she was the world number 31, highlighting how far she has come in a short period of time.

For Vekic, this is her first Grand Slam semi-final appearance, with the Croatian having come from a set down to defeat qualifier Lulu Sun in her quarter-final duel.

In fact, Vekic has gone the distance in four of her Wimbledon assignments and that is not the ideal preparation for a showdown with a confident Paolini.

Donna Vekic v Jasmine Paolini betting tips and predictions

Jasmine Paolini -2.5 games on handicap - 4/5

Paolini made the French Open final last month, but even she may have had some concerns ahead of her visit to Wimbledon, where her first three trips all ended in the opening round.

But the Italian has shown she is completely versatile regarding the surface with this run to the last four, which has featured victories over 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu and American seeds Madison Keys and Emma Navarro.

Paolini may have been slightly fortunate against Keys, having trailed 5-4 in the deciding set before the American picked up an injury and retired after losing her serve to level the scores.

But there was nothing lucky about her dominant 6-2 6-1 success over Navarro, who had earlier accounted for second seed Coco Gauff, as she fired in 19 winners and took only 58 minutes to complete the task.

That means the seventh seed has dropped only one set in five tournament wins and there is every chance that she is fresher than Grand Slam semi-final first-timer Vekic.

The Croatian has gone to a deciding set in four of her five matches and has spent over ten hours on court, which may not be the ideal preparation for this last-four encounter with such an in-form rival.

Vekic has also had to play only one seeded player on her run to the last four - 28th seed Dayana Yastremska in round three - while she went a set behind in her quarter-final clash with qualifier Sun.

Falling behind against Paolini, who has won two of their three meetings in straight sets, may be fatal as the Italian plays with her heart on her sleeve and is especially formidable when on top.

Their latest meeting, in Montreal last August, went Paolini’s way 7-6 6-2 and there are plenty of reasons to side with the seventh seed, having only recently made a Grand Slam final, to cover the handicap on offer.

The 28-year-old has lost only two of her last 15 matches and appears to be going from strength to strength.

Jasmine Paolini to win 2-0 - 6/4

With Paolini fancied to record a convincing victory, it could also be worth backing her to win 2-0, which has been the outcome in four of her five Wimbledon assignments.

Each of Paolini’s wins over Vekic ended 2-0 and lengthy contests have not been a common theme in her recent outings, with only two of her last 11 matches going the distance.

There is a chance that the occasion gets to the Croatian, too, with this being her debut in a Grand Slam semi-final and the intensity and passion of her opponent Paolini.

Donna Vekic over 4.5 aces - 1/1

If Vekic is going to get any success in this semi-final then she has to serve well and even money for her to hit five or more aces should appeal.

Vekic had 11 in her quarter-final victory over Sun and she has failed to serve at least four in only one of her five Wimbledon outings.

In her three previous meetings with Paolini, Vekic has had aces totals of 3, 6 and 6 and that bodes well given that grass is a good surface for racking them up.

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Donna Vekic v Jasmine Paolini odds

Donna Vekic - 6/4
Jasmine Paolini - 8/15

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.