Win the semi-final for Kalinskaya?

Dream start for Anna Kalinskaya in 2024: The Russian has reached the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time in her professional career and now senses a chance of reaching the semi-finals at the Australian Open 2024. Her opponent Qinwen Zheng is a feasible hurdle to overcome.

The bookmakers see the Russian as a comparatively clear outsider. Odds of up to 2.75 are offered for a Kalinskaya vs. Zheng bet on the world number 75. In the event of Zheng’s success, however, only 1.47.

The comparatively high odds on Kalinskaya are certainly surprising, as the Russian has played a strong Grand Slam so far. In the four previous rounds, Kalinskaya even went two sets without losing, including in her most recent match against Jasmine Paolini.

In addition, the 25-year-old Russian also leads the H2h against Qinwen Zheng. The last time the two players met almost two years ago, Kalinskaya was able to celebrate a 2:1 victory. In our opinion, a similar result cannot be ruled out this time either. Our Kalinskaya vs. Zheng prediction aims for a win for the Russian

Anna Kalinskaya – Statistics & current form

Anna Kalinskaya ended the year 2023 with a victory at the Challenger in Midland (USA). It was the Russian’s first singles tournament win since 2019. The 25-year-old took the momentum from 2023 into 2024. Kalinskaya got off to the perfect start at the WTA tournament in Brisbane, winning 6:2 and 6:1 against Bernarda Pera.

In the following round against Victoria Azarenka, Anna Kalinskaya lost out. After a weak start to the match – 1:6 in the first set – Kalinskaya fought her way back into the match and even fended off a match point. In the tie-break, however, she lacked the necessary nerve to realize her comeback against the experienced Belarusian.

Kalinskaya started the following WTA tournament in Adelaide as the 75th-ranked player in the world in the qualifying round. The Russian successfully beat Micic and Bucsa. In the main round, she also defeated Barbora Krejcikova, currently ranked eleventh in the world by the WTA. Kalinskaya’s run of success only came to an end against Kasatkina

Kalinskaya plays her best Grand Slam so far

In contrast, the 25-year-old shone at the AO 2024. In the four rounds Kalinskaya has played so far, she has only lost two sets. Twice, however, the world no. 75 bagged a 2-0 win, including the round of 16 against Jasmine Paolini.

Anna Kalinskaya played with a rate of 66% points won on her first serve and 75% points won on her second serve. Kalinskaya only conceded a single service game over the course of two sets. However, the 25-year-old Russian managed a total of four breaks against Paolini.

If the momentum is carried forward, Kalinskaya is not only capable of winning a set against Zheng. The Russian also has the potential to beat the Chinese player and reach the semi-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time ever

Qinwen Zheng – statistics & current form

Qinwen Zheng has reached the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam for the second time in a row. The Chinese player already caused a sensation at the 2023 US Open and was among the top eight players. Zheng only lost 2-0 to eventual finalist Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-finals of the US Open.

Since then, there has been a clear upward trend. The 21-year-old won at the 2023 Asian Games and secured her ticket for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. At the following tournament in Zhenghou, she won her second WTA singles title in front of a home crowd. In the final of the WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai, however, Zheng narrowly missed out on the next coup.

The course of the tournament at the AO 2024 was therefore by no means surprising, especially as her opponents in the previous rounds were also manageable. Until the quarter-finals, the Chinese player had certainly benefited from the luck of the draw. Opponents such as Krueger, Boulter, Wang and Dodin were by no means the caliber of her upcoming opponent Kalinskaya

Is Zheng convincing again with her strong service game?

Zheng dominated her own service games in the previous rounds. Over four rounds, her worst first serve percentage was 76% against Krueger. Although Zheng played with 11 double faults against the US-American, she also had 12 aces to celebrate in the match.

It remains to be seen how the Chinese player will now perform against a strong return player like Kalinskaya, but statistics above the 80% mark on her own serve tend to be out of the question. The last time the two players met, Zheng was broken a total of four times.

Qinwen Zheng ultimately lost the match 1-2. If she manages to get revenge this time, odds of 1.47 will be paid out for a Kalinskaya vs Zheng bet on the Chinese player

Anna Kalinskaya – Qinwen Zheng Direct comparison / H2H result

In February 2022, the two players met for the first time. Kalinskaya beat Zheng 2:1 at the WTA tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico. Both players impressed with over 70% of points won on their first serve. Similar statistics can be expected this time as well

Anna Kalinskaya – Qinwen Zheng betting tip

Kalinskaya has tasted blood with her recent winning streak and is aiming for her first semi-final appearance at a Grand Slam against Zheng. Although the Chinese player is understandably the favorite, the Russian should not be underestimated as the presumed underdog. With her strong service game, Kalinskaya certainly has the chance to upset her opponent and extend the H2h to 2-0.

Kalinskaya had already delivered a powerful performance against Jasmine Paolini in the previous round. The Russian not only impressed with her own serve, but also dominated her opponent’s returns. After all, she won 54% of the points after her opponent’s first serve. If she can build on that, there is a realistic chance of victory against Qinwen Zheng.

The Chinese player has not yet been really challenged in the current Grand Slam and has largely benefited from the luck of the draw. The first “real” test of her mettle will come in the quarter-finals. With a moderate bet of four units on Kalinskaya vs. Zheng, we dare to bet on the Russian. Alternatively, you can also bet on Kalinskaya to win the set