Lin Zhu vs Daria Saville Prediction & Betting Tips - Hobart International

Prediction published on 10/01/2024, 11:50  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 10/01/2024 at 12:50 in Tennis Predictions

Third seeded Lin Zhu has shown improved form in the Hobart International. The Chinese world number 33 faces wild card Daria Saville (previously Gavrilova before getting married) in the quarter finals of this WTA 250 hard court tournament. Whoever wins takes on unseeded Arantxa Rus or top seed Elise Mertens for a place in the final. Lin Zhu began the new year by entering the Brisbane International. It was a rocky start with her losing the opening set 6-1 to Danielle Collins before recovering to win in three sets. It was a lot harder in round two as she only won one game against world number two Aryna Sabalenka. Her hope now is to recapture the form that won her one WTA singles title and reach another final. It's gone well for her in Hobart so far this week with two wins but the 29-year-old did need to come from a set down to beat Caroline Dolehide in the second round.

Daria Saville was down at 195th in the rankings at the start of this tournament.  Her career high is 20th but that was achieved seven years ago. Last year saw her ranking slip due to time off court because of an ACL injury. The Australian was given a wild card to play and has certainly made the most of it. Saville is now up to 169th in the live rankings  So far this year, the 29-year-old lost in the second round of the Brisbane International, being beaten by 11th seeded Anastasia Potapova. This week has seen her beat Anna Blinkova (after dropping the first set) and former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin in straight sets. The Australian won the only meeting between this pair but that was played eight years ago. Zhu has improved a lot since then and can get revenge for that defeat.