Manuel Chávez
Dailysports's expert
Mccartney Kessler
Dayana Yastremska
June 22 will be finals day in the world of tennis, with Mccartney Kessler and Dayana Yastremska battling for the title in Nottingham. Here’s my take on the best bet for this thrilling showdown.
Mccartney Kessler
The American has had mixed results this season. She clinched the title in Hobart and reached the final in Austin, only falling to a strong Pegula. Kessler sits at 42nd in the world rankings, a position that reflects her status as a solid tour regular.
Kessler’s Nottingham campaign nearly ended in the first round—her clash with Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia was a nail-biter. After trailing 1-3 in the deciding set, Kessler mounted a comeback to win 7-5, 6-7, 7-5. She then eased past Zhu of China 6-1, 6-4, but faced a tough test against Butler, eventually winning 6-3, 3-6, 6-4. In the semifinals, Kessler dispatched Slovakia’s Schmiedlova 6-4, 6-2.
Dayana Yastremska
The Ukrainian has proven she can deliver high-level tennis, though not always consistently. This year, Yastremska reached the final in Linz, where she narrowly lost to Alexandrova despite being close to victory.
In Nottingham, Yastremska opened with a win against Serbia’s Danilovic (6-4, 7-6), then battled past Croatia’s Ruzic 6-2, 2-6, 6-4, coming back from 1-4 in the deciding set. Next, she took down the formidable Leylah Fernandez 6-3, 7-6, and handled Magda Linette in the semifinals 6-4, 6-4.
Match facts
- Kessler has played 41 matches this season, winning 26.
- Yastremska has 21 wins out of 33 matches.
- The current odds: Kessler win – 1.92, Yastremska win – 1.95.
H2H
Their head-to-head stands at 1-1, with both players having won once. However, they have never faced each other on grass before.
Prediction
The bookmakers haven’t named a clear favorite here—both players are riding a wave of momentum and have rightfully earned their place in the final. With just one step left to the title, I believe Yastremska’s upside is greater. If she’s in form, it doesn’t matter who’s across the net. My pick: a straight win for Yastremska.
