I'll tell you, anyone expecting Lady Luck to simply kiss their betting slip on this one is just playing kadima with their cash. Dayana Yastremska, 25th seed, darling of the odds-makers, wants to repeat that straight-set love song she sang to Podoroska last July. And why not? With Podoroska coming in unseeded like a gatecrasher at a high society ball, she's not exactly causing sleepless nights in the Yastremska camp.
But don't be fooled. Podoroska hasn't been sitting around crocheting doilies. She just taught Ren Y. a lesson in straight sets that should probably earn her some honorary teaching credentials. Yastremska, on the other hand, recently experienced the bitter taste of defeat against Hontama, Niemeier, Muchova... Oh, just pick a name from her recent list of 'should have been wins'.
Let's just say, it would be easy to tango with the majority and predict Yastremska's win. It's like choosing an apple over a doughnut, healthy but boring. But why opt for boring when you can have a doughnut? My tennis sense tingles and it's saying an upset could be on the cards. Yastremska should watch out for Podoroska, the unseeded underdog might come swooping in to steal the show.
Albert’s Prediction: Podoroska in 3 sets.