Jelena Ostapenko and Harriet Dart meet in a first-round singles clash of unseeded players at Wimbledon on Monday.
Ostapenko, the world number 35, just missed out on the seedings and arrives at SW19 under a fitness cloud after retiring from her last match.
The Latvian pulled out of her Eastbourne semi-final against Tatjana Maria on Friday, citing illness, which is believed to be related to suffering heatstroke earlier in the tournament.
Ostapenko made it all the way to the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2018 and will be desperate to avoid another first-round exit after losing to Britain’s Sony Kartal at that stage a year ago.
Dart, meanwhile, arrives amid a second disappointing grass campaign in a row. She is 4-1 on the surface again this year after early exits at Birmingham, Queen's Club, Nottingham and Eastbourne.
Ostapenko won their only previous meeting at Devonshire Park in 2023 and will look to dictate terms through her powerful groundstrokes and first serve, while Dart knows she must disrupt her opponent’s rhythm with slice and occasional drop shots.
Jelena Ostapenko v Harriet Dart Tips Summary
Best Bet - Jelena Ostapenko to win & over 19.5 games @ 13/10
Alternative Bet - First set score after 4 games: 2‑2 @ 6/4
Bet Builder - Jelena Ostapenko to win 2‑1, 10+ match aces & Harriet Dart 5+ double faults @ 6/1
Jelena Ostapenko v Harriet Dart Prediction
Best Bet: Jelena Ostapenko to win & over 19.5 games @ 13/10
Ostapenko has superior firepower, the more proven grass‑court pedigree and the higher ceiling. When she is striking cleanly, she overwhelms opponents with pace and depth, taking time away and forcing rushed replies.
However, the Latvian is also known for streaky patches and Dart is exactly the type of opponent who can capitalise on those dips.
The Brit's improved serve - particularly her wide delivery on the deuce side - has helped her hold more consistently this season. She also thrives on grass, where her movement and counterpunching are at their most effective.
Expect Dart to make this competitive. She has taken sets off several top‑20 players on grass and tends to raise her level in front of home crowds.
There is also the question of Ostapenko's fitness after she retired through illness on Friday.
However, the difference in prize money between winning and losing that semi-final was around £4000. So, with £126,000 on offer for first-round winners at Wimbledon and £80,000 to losers, it is perhaps not surprising that she withdrew.
Ostapenko remains one of the most dangerous grass‑court players on the WTA Tour. Her flat, early‑taken groundstrokes and aggressive return game make her a threat to anyone when she finds rhythm
A three‑set match or a tight two‑setter feels likely, making Ostapenko to win & over 19.5 games a strong angle.
Alternative Bet: First set score after 4 games: 2‑2 @ 6/4
Both players tend to start matches with aggressive intent, but neither is immune to early nerves.
Dart's serve has been more reliable in the opening stages of matches this season and Ostapenko often takes a few games to calibrate her timing. That combination points toward a competitive start.
Ostapenko's return quality means she will always threaten breaks, but Dart's first‑serve percentage has been trending upward and she should be able to hold twice before the Latvian fully settles.
In their only previous meeting, which was on grass, both sets were deadlocked at 2-2 after four games.
And a 2‑2 scoreline at that point could reflect the likely early balance of power on Monday.
Jelena Ostapenko v Harriet Dart Bet Builder
Jelena Ostapenko to win 2‑1
10+ match aces
Harriet Dart 5+ double faults
Pays 6/1
Ostapenko often drops sets when her timing deserts her, but she usually rebounds with force.
Dart has the consistency to take advantage of a poor Ostapenko spell, especially on grass.
Both players can generate free points on serve. Ostapenko's flat delivery skids through the court, while Dart has been averaging higher ace counts on grass than on any other surface.
However, Dart's second serve remains her biggest weakness. Under pressure from Ostapenko's aggressive returning, she is likely to overhit or tighten up, leading to double faults.
She has recorded at least six in four of her last five matches, all on grass.
Key Match Stats
Jelena Ostapenko won the only previous meeting with Harriet Dart 6-3 6-4 at Eastbourne in 2023
Dart has lost five of her last eight matches at Wimbledon
Dart is 1-4 on grass this year, the same record she posted on the surface in 2025
Ostapenko reached the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2018 but lost in the first round to Sony Kartal last year
Dart has served at least six double faults in four of her six matches on grass this year
Ostapenko averages 5.5 aces per match on grass this year, Dart averages 4.0
Read more tennis betting tips and predictions on site.
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.
