Olga Danilovic vs Zhang Shuai

WTA Wimbledon – 1st Round
Olga Danilovic vs Zhang Shuai

🧠 Form & Context

• Olga Danilovic
  🚀 Career-best Slam performances: R4 at 2025 Australian Open and 2024 Roland-Garros.
  🎯 Big-match ready: 7–1 in Slam first rounds since 2023, with her only loss at Wimbledon 2024 as a LL.
  🌱 Grass learning curve: 2–2 this swing; close losses to Yastremska and Osaka show she’s close.
  🔥 Momentum builder: Titles in Antalya and a final in Rouen have elevated her confidence.


• Zhang Shuai
  🧱 Back from the brink: Snapped a 24-match losing streak last year and hasn’t looked back.
  🎾 Wimbledon track record: QF in 2019, but also 2–8 in R1 matches overall here.
  🏃‍♀️ Doubles excellence: Still elite in doubles, helping her court sense and positioning.
  🔥 Grass hot streak: 4–1 this season, including a dominant qualifying campaign at Roehampton.

🔍 Match Breakdown

Danilovic enters as the favorite with a bigger game and rising Slam pedigree. Her lefty serve and bold forehand will trouble Zhang, especially if she can attack the veteran’s second serve and avoid overhitting on returns.

Zhang will aim to extend rallies and frustrate Danilovic with her redirection, slice depth, and comfort on the run. She’s not as powerful, but her timing and grass IQ could force errors if Danilovic isn’t disciplined.

This likely won’t be a clean sweep—Zhang’s form and experience make her dangerous, especially if the match goes into a third. Still, Danilovic’s aggressive mindset and improved Slam maturity give her the edge.

🔮 Prediction

Prediction: Danilovic in 3 sets – She survives an early scare and pulls away with stronger serve + baseline control late in the decider.

Look for value in set betting or live trade after a tight opening set.