Maria Timofeeva vs Nadia Podoroska Prediction & Betting Tips - Budapest, Hungary

Prediction published on 21/07/2023, 11:02  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 21/07/2023 at 23:15 in Tennis Predictions

Can lucky loser Maria Timofeeva reach the final of the Budapest Grand Prix? To do so the Russian has to defeat ninth seeded Nadia Podoroska in the semi-final. Timofeeva was the second seed in the qualifying rounds but lost in three sets to Anna Siskova. That was not the end of her week in Budapest though as she was reinstated into the main draw as a lucky loser. Another defeat looked likely when going a set down to Daria Saville in the first round. The world number 246 recovered to win the next two sets for the loss of seven games. An all-Russian second round match against Diana Shnaider was won with only two games lost. It was more difficult in the last eight with the first set lost to qualifier Kaja Juvan but only five games were lost in the next two sets. Reaching the last four has seen her climb to 172nd in the live rankings, 21 places above her career high. Winning this match can see her rise to 146th in the rankings.

Nadia Podoroska was ranked 80th in the world. The Argentinian was as high as 36th in the rankings two years ago. This run to the semi-finals has taken her up to 66th in the live rankings. This is her latest good run on clay with another semi-final having been reached in Valenca last month. The first round of this tournament was a difficult one for Podoroska. Only one game was won in the first set against Storm Hunter but the Argentinian fought back to take the next two winning both by a 6-1 scoreline. It's been a much easier route since then for the 26-year-old. No sets have been dropped in her last two matches with only seven games lost. The last eight saw her defeat the sixth seed Elina Avanesyan for the  loss of only four games. We believe the ninth seed can end the run of the lucky loser.