Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the WTA Wimbledon match.
Olga Danilovic has made notable progress over the past two seasons, and expectations are growing for her to deliver results at Grand Slam level. Wimbledon presents a good chance to showcase that growth, especially in a match against the experienced Zhang Shuai. That said, this won’t be a straightforward test for the Serbian — Zhang is more than capable of making things difficult.
Olga Danilovic
Danilovic has been shaky on grass this season, picking up two wins and two losses. Her recent matches have frequently gone to tiebreaks — four in her last eight sets — a sign of tight, nervy battles. But errors remain an issue, with the Serbian averaging five double faults per match. Her record at Wimbledon is modest: she has yet to advance beyond the first round.
Zhang Shuai
Zhang Shuai may be past her peak, but she’s shown strong form during this grass swing, winning four of her last five matches. She came through Wimbledon qualifying in commanding fashion, not dropping a set. Her aggressive, flat-hitting game is well suited to grass, and she has previous against Danilovic — winning their lone encounter on clay in 2021 in three sets.
Olga Danilovic vs Zhang Shuai Prediction
Danilovic is unlikely to control this match with authority. Zhang will apply pressure in every set, and given her current form, she has every chance of pulling off the win. Either way, this contest promises to go deep, with at least 21 games expected.
