Defending champion Serena Williams barged into the quarterfinals of the 2016 French Open with an easy straight-sets victory over Elina Svitolina on Wednesday. The world no. 1 will look to continue her excellent form when she locks horns with Yulia Putintseva in an intriguing last-eight clash later today.
Read on below for an in-depth breakdown of this blockbuster matchup and while you’re at it, you can check out our preview of the semifinal match between Sam Stosur and Garbine Muguruza.
Tennis News and Previews
Serena Williams vs. Yulia Putintseva Preview
Where: Roland Garros, Paris
When: Thursday, June 2
Line: Serena Williams (-1,400) vs. Yulia Putintseva (+700) – view all French Open Women’s Singles lines
TV Broadcast: Tennis Channel
Betting on Serena Williams (-1,400)
Williams, who improved to 4-0 against Svitolina, blasted 27 winners and won 72 percent of her first serve points. What proved to be the difference in the match, however, was Serena’s aggressive play. She won eight of her nine net points against Svitolina. Next up for Williams is a quarterfinal clash with Yulia Putintseva. The 34-year-old will fancy her chances against the unseeded Kazakh as she has won all of her two previous matches against Putintseva. Williams won their most recent meeting in the third round of this year’s Indian Wells Masters, 7-6 (2), 6-0.
For Williams to extend her dominance against Putintseva, she needs to continue her excellent play on the receiving end. She converted six of her eight break point chances against Svitolina in the fourth round. Williams has converted 44 percent (19-of-43) of her break point opportunities in this tournament thus far.
Williams is 9-1 in her last 10 matches.
Betting on Yulia Putintseva (+700)
Yulia Putintseva stormed into the quarterfinals of the French Open with a tough 7-5, 7-5 win over Carla Suarez Navarro on Wednesday. It was a remarkable performance from the 21-year-old who needed two hours and two minutes to produce the straight-sets win. It was a historic victory for Putintseva as she reached a Grand Slam quarterfinal for the first time in her young career.
Things are bound to get tougher, though, for Putintseva as standing in her way in the next round is 21-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams. For Putintseva to record a major shock against Williams, the Kazakh star needs to improve on her first serve percentage. Putintseva won just 63 percent of her first serve points against Suarez Navarro. That simply won’t do against a world-class player like Williams who is currently in the midst of a 11-match winning streak here at Roland Garros.
Apart from polishing her serve, Putintseva also needs to continue her superb play on the receiving end. She converted six of her 12 break point opportunities against Suarez Navarro in the fourth round. Putintseva will need to be at her best against Williams who has recorded 20 aces in this Grand Slam event thus far.
Putintseva is 7-3 in her last 10 matches.
Writer’s Prediction
Williams (-1,400) defeats Putintseva in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2.
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