Tatjana María vs Jule Niemeier Prediction & Betting Tips - Wimbledon Qualification, England

Prediction published on 03/07/2022, 10:42  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 03/07/2022 at 12:58 in Tennis Predictions

It's been another unpredictable women's singles tournament. World number 103 Tatjana Maria faces Jule Niemeier, who is only ranked six places above her, so we're guaranteed a German unseeded player in the semi-finals.  Only two of the top ten seeds in the women's draw remain in the tournament and we're guaranteed a first-time Grand Slam finalist in the bottom half of the draw. Jule Niemeier is playing in only her second Grand Slam main draw. The other was in this year's French Open when losing in the first round. Last year saw the German lose in the third qualifying round at Wimbledon. This time around though, her ranking earned her an automatic place in the main draw. What a debut it's been with wins over Wang Xiyu, second seeded Anett Kontaveit (for the loss of only four games), Lesia Tsurenko (in three sets) and Heather Watson.

Tatjana Maria has been playing Grand Slam singles events since 2007. In that time, only in the 2015 Wimbledon Championships did the German get to the third round of a Grand Slam. Few could have seen this run to the quarter finals coming. Her last eight times in the main draw of a Grand Slam have seen her beaten in the first round. The other saw Maria lose in the first qualifying round of last year's US Open. Not since the 2018 US Open had Maria won a Grand Slam singles match and now look at her. The 34-year-old did win the Mallorca grass court tournament four years ago and earlier this year, won a clay court event held in Botago but only beat one top 100 ranked player. Her grass court preparations for this tournament included a quarter final in a WTA125 event held in Italy and then losing in the last 16 to Alize Cornet. This tournament has produced the best form of her life with wins over qualifer Astrid Sharma (after losing the first set), 20th seed Sonya Cirstea (in three sets), fifth seeded Maria Sakkari and then number 12 seed Jelena Ostapenko after again losing the first set. This should be a great tussle between the German pair but Niemeier looks to be playing the best at present and can get the win.