Manuel Chávez
Dailysports's expert
Aryna Sabalenka
Elise Mertens
On July 6, Aryna Sabalenka and Elise Mertens will clash in their third-round encounter at Wimbledon. Here’s my take on how to bet on this exciting matchup.
Aryna Sabalenka
The Belarusian star is having a stellar season, reaching seven finals and claiming three titles, although she did fall short in the decisive battles at the Australian Open and Roland Garros.
Sabalenka remains the world No. 1, showing impressive consistency. On grass, however, her game has looked somewhat labored. In the Wimbledon first round, she overcame Canada’s Carson Branstine 6-1, 7-5. The second round saw her defeat Marie Bouzkova 7-6, 6-4.
Her third-round showdown against Emma Raducanu ended in straight sets—7-6, 6-4. Although Sabalenka has made it to the fourth round, every match has been a battle; in her last outing, she came from 1-4 down to take the second set.
Elise Mertens
The experienced Belgian has already captured two titles this season, including a grass-court triumph in the Netherlands. Currently ranked No. 23 in the world, she’s more than capable of beating any opponent on her day.
At Wimbledon, Mertens dispatched Czech Linda Fruhvirtova 6-4, 6-2, followed by a win over American Li Ann 6-7, 6-1, 6-2. In her latest match, she overcame the formidable Ukrainian Elina Svitolina 6-1, 7-6. Mertens is in great form on grass, boasting eight wins in her last nine matches on the surface.
Match facts
Sabalenka has played 53 matches this season, winning 45.
Mertens has won 29 out of 41 matches this year.
The odds for the upcoming clash: Sabalenka to win – 1.23, Mertens to win – 4.5.
Head-to-head
The two players have faced off 12 times, with Sabalenka leading the rivalry 10-2. They’ve met twice already this season, and Sabalenka has come out on top both times.
Prediction
These athletes know each other well, having played doubles together and even won Grand Slam titles as a pair. They’ve also had plenty of head-to-head battles. I’m expecting a tough, drawn-out contest. Sabalenka is the favorite, but she hasn’t looked at her best lately. I’m backing the total to go over 20.5 games.
