Heather Watson vs Kaja Juvan Prediction & Betting Tips - Wimbledon Qualification, England

Prediction published on 30/06/2022, 09:51  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 30/06/2022 at 11:28 in Tennis Predictions

One of these two players is going to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time. Both are unseeded but it's Kaja Juvan who is ranked 47 places above her opponent. Juvan is the world number 62 and that's only four places lower than her career high earned in early June. Her Wimbledon warm-up didn't go well with no wins and she had to retire in the second of those matches in Hamburg. Earlier this year, Juvan lost in the final of a clay court tournament held in Strasbourg. Wins have been earned this year against Aryna Sabalenka, Karoline Pliskova and Elise Mertens. This is her third Wimbledon and her best has been reaching the third round with last year a victory over Belinda Bencic. This year has seen her beat 23rd seeded Beatriz Haddad-Maia who had won two grass court tournaments in recent weeks. That was followed by Juvan beating Dalma Gaifa in straight sets. Her only previous meeting with Watson was in the US Open first round in 2021 with Juvan losing just five games.

Britain's Heather Watson first played Grand Slam singles in 2010. Could 12 years later, the 30-year-old finally make it to the fourth round of one? She's had success in the doubles, winning the mixed doubles title here but singles success has been a struggle. Watson has sllipped down to 109th in the world (drat no ranking points here!) and has only reached the last 16 of a tournament four times this year and not gone any further. Last week saw her lose in the Eastbourne qualifiers, get into the main draw as a lucky loser and then lose in the first round. So far this week, both of her matches have gone into a second day. Wins have come against Tamara Korpatsch (after losing the first set) and then a straight sets win over Wang Qiang. Watson's run can end here and Juvan can be backed to get through and take on either Lesia Tsurenko or Jule Niemeier, both who are unseeded.