Donna Vekic vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova Prediction Australian Open Tennis Picks 1/19/25
Australian Open Prediction: Donna Vekic vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
Sunday, January 19, 2025
Betting Odds: Donna Vekic -139 / Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova +112 Click Here for the Latest Odds
Where to Watch: ESPN
Donna Vekic and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova meet in the fourth round of the 2025 Australian Open on Sunday, January 19, 2025. Here's our Donna Vekic vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova prediction. This preview also includes a Donna Vekic vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova pick.
Donna Vekic Preview
Donna Vekic won a titanic tussle against World No. 13 Diana Shnaider in three sets. The match lasted three hours and one minute.
Vekic prevailed 7-6, 6-7, 7-5. She trailed 3-5 in the third set and Shanider served for the match, but it was Vekic who finished stronger, winning four straight games for the massive victory that propels her into the fourth round of the Australian Open for the third time in her career.
In the victory, Vekic hit 44 winners and 38 unforced errors. She hit 10 aces and five double faults. Vekic landed 60% of first serves and won 74% of first-serve points (52/70).
Vekic won 40% of second-serve points (19/47) and saved seven of 12 break points.
The Croatian won 43% of return points in the match (52/122) and converted six of nine break points.
Vekic last reached the quarterfinal in Melbourne back in 2023, and her best-ever Grand Slam achievement was the semifinal she attained at last year's Wimbledon.
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova Preview
Meeting Vekic in the last 16 is Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. This will be a rematch of the first round of the 2024 Australian Open meeting between them which the Russian won in straight sets.
Pavlyuchenkova did not face a seed to reach the second week. She accounted for wins over Yue Yuan, Laura Siegemund and countrywoman Anastasia Potapova who is the highest-ranked woman she played so far.
Pavlyuchenkova beat Siegemund in a clash of the veterans in the third round. The match took 15 games to decide with the World No. 32 dominating from the first ball.
She compiled 15 winners and 26 unforced errors. She got 64% of her first serves in play and won 69% of first-serve points (25/36).
Pavlyuchenkova won 65% of second-serve points (13/20) and saved all three break points on her serve.
The former French Open finalist tallied 54% of return points (29/54) and converted four of 10 break points in the match.
Pavlyuchenkova has reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open three times in her career, but hasn't been there since 2020.
Donna Vekic vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova Head-To-Head
• Vekic and Pavlyuchenkova have met twice on the WTA Tour.
• Pavlyuchenkova won both times on hard courts including at the 2024 Australian Open.
Donna Vekic vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova Prediction
It's all to play for between two players who might not have ranked so highly in the pre-tournament list of projected last 16 stayers. Vekic's name was probably still going to make it this far after her recent showings in the last two Grand Slams. Pavlyuchenkova's presence is the one that is most surprising. But she's been a beneficiary of a very practicable draw, with the highest-ranked player she faced before the second week being World No. 36 Anastasia Potapova.
I'm leaning toward Vekic here despite her losing record in this series. She's serving so well and has clutched it out in close contests already in the first week against a serial winner like Shnaider. But you are likely to get more value for your money backing the games spread as both players will nullify each other with their quality and powerful hitting.
Nur’s Pick Over 21.5 games in the match
AUTHOR: Nur Said
