Olympics Women’s Tennis Finals Preview: Qinwen Zhang vs. Donna Vekic

• Qinwen Zhang stunned Iga Swiatek in the semifinal 

• Donna Vekic won as a favorite over Anna Karolina Schmiedlova to advance 

The women’s gold medal final is set for Saturday in Paris. Qinwen Zhang and Donna Vekic will face off in a matchup that nobody expected. 

Zhang's route to the final was the most improbable. In the semifinal, she shocked the best player in the world, Iga Swiatek. Vekic's route was easier, going through Anna Karolina Schmiedlova.

Schmiedlova was on a Cinderella run in the Olympics, so it’s still impressive that Vekic took down a surging player. No matter who wins, we will have a first-time Olympic gold medalist.

Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook. Head to Caesars Sportsbook to place your bets! If you want to try Caesars Sportsbook, you can get $1,000 First Bet on Caesars With Promo Code WSN1000.

Qinwen Zhang vs. Donna Vekic Odds

Qinwen Zhang vs. Donna Vekic: My Pick

Qinwen Zhang enters the gold medal match as a heavy favorite over Donna Vekic. Our primary concern for Zheng is her ability to calm her emotions from her electric semifinal victory. Despite a tremendous upset, bookmakers value her more in the market than she deserves. 

Vekic has been playing some of the best tennis of her career, and we’re receiving close to a 2:1 price. There will be moments throughout this match to live bet, and the value could be even better. We’re taking Vekic to win, as she has played very consistent tennis throughout the Olympics.

My Pick: Donna Vekic Moneyline (+195) at Caesars Sportsbook

Qinwen Zhang vs. Donna Vekic Predictions 

Zhang and Vekic should make for an unbelievable tennis match. Even though nobody expected this outcome, both players are very explosive and are playing some of the best tennis. 

Zhang is just 21 years old and enters the tournament as the seventh-ranked player in the world. She has been in many battles at a young age. 

Vekic is 28 years old and the 21st-ranked player in the country. Her winning resume is much smaller, but this tournament has been a breakout performance.

Qinwen Zhang Preview

Zhang was a heavy underdog to Swiatek, and this match went as very few expected. Zheng played the best match of her career against the world’s best, and her defense was unbelievable. 

When Swiatek was serving, Zhang consistently answered the call, resulting in a shocking upset. Zhang has been so good at such an early age because of her fitness. 

She is a grinder and is constantly prepared when the match goes to the third set. Zhang has an advantage if this match goes the distance with many games in each set.

Bet on Qinwen Zhang (-275) at Caesars

Donna Vekic Preview

If anyone can win this match, it’s Vekic. Although she has been inconsistent throughout her career, she is coming off a Wimbledon semifinal appearance and carried this momentum into the Olympics. 

Her dominance in England has been even more intense in Paris. Vekic made a statement earlier in the week, taking down Coco Gauff. Gauff was expected to make a deep run in the tournament and was favored against Vekic. 

She followed up this win with a three-set victory over Marta Kostyuk. The final set went 13 games, and she escaped with another win. In the semifinals, she beat the hottest player in the tournament, Schmidlova. 

If Vekic's consistency doesn’t stop, she has the capability to win in three sets. She is relentless and hasn’t given up on any balls in Paris.

Bet on Donna Vekic (+195) at Caesars

Who Wins?

Both players have good enough serves to win a gold medal. The key for Vekic is to get this game over quickly because she doesn’t have the same stamina as Zhang. However, Vekic has shown the ability to win close games throughout the Olympics and battle back.

We don’t believe Zhang will replicate her performance against Swiatek in the gold medal final. We’re backing Vekic to win her first gold medal.

How to Watch - Qinen Zhang vs. Donna Vekic

• When: Saturday, August 3 at 6:00 AM EST

• Where: Paris, France 

• Where to Watch: NBC