Wimbledon quarter preview: Will 2024 runner-up Paolini return to final 4 in London? The quarterfinalists in the bottom half of the 2026 Wimbledon draw will take their turn on Wednesday to secure their places in the final four at the All England Club. The matches will unfold on Centre Court and No. 1 Court, featuring two high-profile encounters: No. 12 seed Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine facing 2024 finalist and No. 13 seed Jasmine Paolini of Italy, and No. 9 seed Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic battling No. 21 seed Elise Mertens of Belgium. The matches are set for July 8, with the order of play scheduled for 1:30 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively. The Kostyuk-Paolini clash on Centre Court marks a significant matchup for both players. Kostyuk, who has carried her strong clay-court form into Wimbledon, has reached her second Grand Slam quarterfinal of the year and third overall. Her performance at the tournament has been marked by resilience, including a straight-sets victory over qualifier Ashlyn Krueger, who had an 11-match winning streak. Kostyuk’s ability to adapt to grass courts has been a key factor in her success, and she emphasized her focus on refining her game during the tournament. “I think I adapt really well,” she said. “When I need to, I read well when I’m overdoing or not doing enough. I feel like today [vs. Krueger], you could see clearly how I was trying to change pace, I was not trying to, like, overhit and give her more balls. I think just giving myself this freedom of trying different things is definitely helping.” For Paolini, the quarterfinal represents a return to form after a season marred by injuries and inconsistent results. The Italian, who reached the final four in 2024, acknowledged the challenges she faced this year.#linda_noskova #elise_mertens #jasmine_paolini #wimbledon #martina_kostyuk
Swiatek and Rybakina stunned at Wimbledon as Eala and Mertens pull off upset wins The women’s third-round matches at Wimbledon took a dramatic turn on Saturday as defending champion Iga Swiatek and world No 2 Elena Rybakina were both eliminated in straight sets. The results sent shockwaves through the tournament, with Filipina star Alexandra Eala defeating Swiatek 7-6 (9), 6-2 and Belgian 25th seed Elise Mertens dismantling Rybakina 7-6 (4), 6-1. The upsets opened the bottom half of the draw, creating a platform for underdogs to challenge for deeper runs. Eala’s victory over Swiatek marked a historic moment for Philippine tennis. At 21 years old, she became the first player from the Philippines to reach the third round at Wimbledon, a milestone that resonated deeply with her homeland. Eala, who trained with her brother and grandfather after school, described the achievement as “everything” during her on-court interview. The match against Swiatek, a player carrying the hopes of a nation, was a test of composure and resilience. Eala, despite being the underdog, displayed a fearless approach, attacking Swiatek’s second serve and dictating rallies with her flat, penetrating groundstrokes. The first set was a gripping battle, with Eala breaking back after falling behind and serving for the set at 5-3. A tense tie-break followed, with Eala edging a 10-point encounter to take the first set. Swiatek, the reigning champion, fought back, but Eala’s composure under pressure proved decisive. After nearly 90 minutes, Swiatek pushed a forehand long, allowing Eala to celebrate her first Grand Slam victory. The second set saw Eala dominate, breaking Swiatek twice early and maintaining control with her aggressive baseline play.#alexandra_eala #iga_swiatek #elena_rybakina #elise_mertens #wimbledon
WTA French Open Second-Round Betting Insights: Key Matches and Strategic Tips Julia Grabher faces Amanda Anisimova in the second round of the French Open, with both players presenting unique challenges for bettors. Grabher, who advanced to the second round after defeating Rebecca Sramkova in the first round, has a mixed recent record. Her last five matches include a 3-2 record, but her performance in lower-tier events raises questions about her current form. She failed to progress beyond the qualifying rounds at the Rome Open, which suggests she may not yet be in peak condition. Anisimova, on the other hand, is returning from a prolonged injury absence, having missed nearly the entire clay season. Her recent return to competition saw her win her opening match in straight sets, but her form remains uncertain. Analysts caution that bettors should approach this match with caution, as Anisimova’s physical readiness and overall performance are still in question. Despite this, Anisimova is positioned as the more reliable option, with a 2-0 victory priced at 1.60 odds at Coral. Maja Chwalinska’s clash against Elise Mertens highlights a matchup between an in-form player and a top-25 opponent. Chwalinska has been dominant in recent weeks, securing four consecutive wins and eight of her last 10 matches. Her first-round upset victory over Qinwen Zheng, a former top-10 player with a strong clay court record, further underscores her current momentum. Mertens, while a respected player, has faced challenges in recent matches, losing to Mirra Andreeva and Karolina Pliskova. However, her recent straight-set win over Tatjana Maria in the first round demonstrates her ability to perform under pressure. The betting strategy here leans toward a parlay involving Mertens’ moneyline, paired with a single bet on Chwalinska.#maja_chwalinska #elise_mertens #amanda_anisimova #julia_grabher #wta_french_open
2026 Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers: Jasmine Paolini and Iva Jovic Eye Shenzhen Finals The 2026 Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers are set to begin on 10-11 April, with 14 nations competing for the remaining seven spots at the women’s World Cup of tennis finals. The tournament will take place in Shenzhen, China, from 22–27 September, with the host nation already guaranteed a place in the final stage. The winners of this weekend’s play-offs will join China in the finals, including defending champions Italy and 2025 runners-up USA. The qualifiers feature a format of five matches per tie, with two singles rubbers on the first day followed by a doubles match on the second. If no team has secured three wins by the end of the doubles match, additional singles rubbers will determine the outcome. Matches are played as best of three sets, aligning with the structure of the Davis Cup, the men’s equivalent tournament. Italy, led by world No. 8 Jasmine Paolini, will face Japan in Velletri on outdoor clay. Paolini will partner Sara Errani, the Olympic doubles gold medallist, in the doubles match. Team USA, spearheaded by 18-year-old Iva Jovic—the youngest player to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final in 2026—will take on Belgium. Belgium’s squad includes world doubles No. 1 Elise Mertens, adding depth to their lineup. Switzerland, guided by Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion Belinda Bencic, will host Czechia. The Czech team features former Wimbledon champion Markéta Vondroušová and world No. 14 Linda Nosková, making them a formidable opponent. Ukraine, with world No. 7 Elina Svitolina and rising star Marta Kostyuk (who has won 10 of her 13 BJK Cup singles matches), will face Poland. The qualifiers will be held across multiple venues, with matches played on a mix of indoor and outdoor courts.#belinda_bencic #elise_mertens #jasmine_paolini #billie_jean_king_cup #iva_jovic
Cirstea vs. Mertens Matchup at Miami Open: Odds and Prediction for Round of 32 Elise Mertens, the No. 19-ranked player, faces Sorana Cirstea, the No. 35-ranked player, in the Round of 32 at the Miami Open presented by Itau on Saturday, March 21. Mertens is the favorite to advance to the Round of 16, with odds of -118, while Cirstea is listed at -110. The match will take place on a hard court, a surface where both players have shown strong performances in recent months. Mertens, who has a 15-13 record in hard-court tournaments over the past year, has a 71.6% winning percentage in service games and a 38.0% success rate in return games. She has converted 46.3% of break points (105 out of 227) on hard courts, ranking 58th in this category. However, her recent tournament run ended in the Round of 32 of the BNP Paribas Open, where she lost to Belinda Bencic in straight sets. Cirstea, meanwhile, has a 33-12 record on hard courts over the past 12 months, including two tournament titles. She has won 74.9% of her service games and 40.6% of her return games, with a 48.1% conversion rate on break points (179 of 372). Cirstea’s most recent tournament exit also occurred in the Round of 32 at the BNP Paribas Open, where she fell to Linda Noskova in three sets. The implied probability from the moneyline suggests Cirstea has a 54.1% chance to win the match, despite being the underdog. Both players will need to rely on their strengths on hard courts, with Mertens’ experience and Cirstea’s break-point conversion ability likely playing key roles. The outcome could hinge on how each player handles pressure in critical moments, particularly in the final sets of a closely contested match. The match is part of a broader tournament that has drawn attention for its competitive matchups and high stakes.#bnp_paribas_open #miami_open #elise_mertens #itau #sorana_cirstea
BNP Paribas Open 2026: Pegula and Bencic Advance to Fourth Round American Jessica Pegula, the No. 5 seed, advanced to the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open after defeating Latvian Jelena Ostapenko, the No. 26 seed, in a three-set match that concluded with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. The encounter, which lasted one hour and 46 minutes, saw Pegula overcome an aggressive start from Ostapenko, a former French Open champion, and regain control of the match in the second set. Ostapenko dominated the opening set by positioning Pegula behind the baseline and striking the ball with precision, securing the first set 6-4. However, her consistency wavered as Pegula began to read Ostapenko’s service motion more effectively. The American capitalized on this by winning six consecutive games from 2-3 to 6-3 in the second set, shifting the momentum in her favor. Pegula closed the match with a double-break lead, punctuating her victory with a crosscourt forehand winner. Pegula credited her ability to adjust mid-match, stating, “I had to kind of snap myself back and kind of lock in to not let that get away from me, because then obviously it starts to affect everything.” Her strategic shifts allowed her to neutralize Ostapenko’s high-risk hitting and secure the win. Meanwhile, Swiss player Belinda Bencic advanced to the fourth round by defeating Belgian Elise Mertens, the No. 22 seed, in straight sets (6-2, 6-3). Bencic controlled the match from the outset, dictating the rhythm and preventing Mertens from finding a comfortable hitting zone. The Swiss player converted four of her break point opportunities while remaining unbroken, leading to a decisive victory that concluded in just over 80 minutes of play. Pegula’s win sets up a fourth-round clash against Bencic, the No. 12 seed, in the California desert.#bnp_paribas_open #jelena_ostapenko #jessica_pegula #belinda_bencic #elise_mertens
