Karolina Pliskova vs Aryna Sabalenka
7th July from 1300hrs
Tennis – London – Wimbledon
Pick Pliskova +2.5 games handicap
Bookmaker Unibet
Odds: 11/10* (odds taken 2000 GMT on July 6th 2021)
We are expecting some heavy-hitting fireworks in this Wimbledon semi-final match on Thursday.
This is the deepest that Aryna Sabalenka has been at a Grand Slam so there’s a big opportunity ahead.
Pliskova was the first player to reach the final four after a rapid-fire success in her quarter-final. This should be a cracker.
Table of Contents
Karolina Pliskova Preview – Can Czech player close in on a maiden Slam?
Karolina Pliskova has not managed to put a Grand Slam title in the cabinet during her career.
But the former World Number one is knocking on the door at SW19 after booking a place in the final four.
It was a ruthless 6-2 6-2 win over Viktorija Golubic that Pliskova took to the quarter-finals.
She is the last player standing in the draw to have not dropped a set in this campaign.
This is a tougher fixture though and Pliskova is the 13/8 match underdog for it* (odds taken 2000 GMT on July 6th 2021).
While Pliskova, the 8th seed of Wimbledon, has been firing through the rounds, she hasn’t faced much in terms of stiff opposition.
This semi-final against Sabalenka will be the first seeded player that she will have met in the tournament.
But she can only beat what has been in front of her and in none of the last four rounds has Pliskova dropped more than three games in a set.
Even though she is the underdog, Pliskova is not likely going to get totally rolled over.
The Karolina Pliskova +2.5 Game handicap at 11/10 is very reasonable* (odds taken 2000 GMT on July 6th 2021).
Pliskova had not been past the fourth round of Wimbledon before in her career.
The target will be to make it through to just her second Grand Slam final having lost the US Open 2016 final to Angelique Kerber.
In none of the last eight Grand Slam tournaments played has Pliskova been past the 4th Round of a tournament.
Is this her time?
Aryna Sabalenka Preview – Sabalenka on the prowl
There was a lot to be impressed about from Aryna Sabalenka in her quarter-final victory.
She faced the in-form Ons Jabeur, but Sabalenka took the match in straight sets.
This is the first Grand Slam semi-final for the Belarusian. In fact, she hadn’t been past the fourth round at any Slam before this.
So she is uncharted territory, but heads into this match as the 1/2 odds-on favourite* (odds taken 2000 GMT on July 6th 2021)
It’s hard to argue with that as well because it’s been a string 2021 from Sabalenka.
The Belarusian is currently ranked 4th in the world and has wrapped up two titles this season.
One of them was at the Madrid Open where she beat Ashleigh Barty in the final.
The other was earlier in the year at Abu Dhabi.
Just to sum up the year that she has had, Sabalenka was with a 29/10 win/loss record before Wimbledon.
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Aryna Sabalenka does also have the head to head form between the two players as well.
The two have met twice before and Sabalenka has won both.
This will be their first meeting since 2018 in Cincinnati.
But the first clash that Sabalenka and Pliskova had was on the grass, at Eastbourne in 2018.
We think all of that combines in Sabalenka reaching her first Slam final.
Karolina Pliskova vs Aryna Sabalenka Betting Advice
This just feels like a big moment for Sabalenka to march on to her first Grand Slam final.
She is one of the best around who hasn’t been that far at a major yet.
We think the Sabalenka 2-0 set betting option is in play at 6/5* (odds taken 2000 GMT on July 6th 2021)
Key Facts – Karolina Pliskova vs Aryna Sabalenka Betting Tip
- Karolina Pliskova is in her first Wimbledon semi final
- Karolina Pliskova trails Sabalenka 2-0 in the head to head
- Aryna Sabalenka is in her first Grand Slam semi final
Pliskova is another of the great players on the WTA who has never won a Grand Slam title.
She has not faced anyone in this draw with the kind of power that Sabalenka is going to throw at her.
Both previous meetings between these two went the distance. Sabalenka is likely to be too sharp to let it get that far.
The Pliskova +2.5 Game handicap at 11/10 looks a good proposition* (odds taken 2000 GMT on July 6th 2021).
The best betting odds for Karolina Pliskova vs Aryna Sabalenka
Karolina Pliskova to win: 13/8 at Bet365
Aryna Sabalenka to win: 1/2 at Bet365
