Tennis at Paris Olympics 2024 Day 6: Mixed doubles predictions ft. Felix Auger-Aliassime/ Gabriela Dabrowski vs Tomas Machac/ Katerina Siniakova
Tennis' mixed doubles event at the 2024 Paris Olympics will come to a close soon, with the two semi-finals slated to take place on Thursday, August 1. Pairs from Canada, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and China remain in contention for the medals.
The semi-finals will feature top 20 ATP player Felix Auger-Aliassime teaming up with Gabriela Dabrowski to play against Katerina Siniakova and Tomas Machac from the Czech Republic. Aliassime only has one doubles title in his career, whereas Dabrowski is a more seasoned doubles player with 16 doubles titles and a two-time Grand Slam Champion in mixed doubles.
The semi-final will also feature the alternate Chinese pair of Zhang Zhizhen and Xin Wang. Here are the two mixed doubles semi-final matches at the Paris Olympics-
#1. Felix Auger-Aliassime/ Gabriela Dabrowski vs Tomas Machac/ Katerina Siniakova
The first mixed-doubles semi-final at the 2024 Paris Olympics will feature the Canadian pair of Felix Auger-Aliassime and Gabriela Dabrowski taking on the Czech pair of Tomas Machac and Katerina Siniakova. The Canadian team defeated the British pair of Heather Watson and Joe Salisbury. They then caused an upset when they defeated the third-seeded American pair of Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz in the second round.
On the other hand, Siniakova and Machac defeated the top-seeded German pair of Alexander Zverev and Laura Siegemund in the first round. The Czech team then defeated the Japanese pair of Kei Nishikori and Ena Shibahara in the second round.
Both the male players on both teams are predominantly singles players, with only one doubles title each. However, both Dabrowski and Siniakova are accomplished doubles players. The former is a two-time mixed doubles champion at Grand Slams, whereas Siniakova is a former World No. 1 player in doubles. The Czech has nine women's doubles titles at Grand Slams.
Siniakova and Machac are the more effective team in doubles due to the former's experience of being a top doubles player. Therefore they will have the advantage going in this match.
Predicted Winner- Tomas Machac/ Katerina Siniakova
# 2. Wesley Koolhof/ Demi Schuurs vs Zhang Zhizhen/ Xin Wang
The second semi-final of the mixed doubles at the 2024 Paris Olympics will feature the Dutch pair of Wesley Koolhof and Demi Schuurs facing off against the Chinese pair of Zhang Zhizhen and Xin Wang. The Dutch duo defeated the fourth-seeded Greek pair of Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari in the first round. They then won against the Italian pair of Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani in the second round.
The Chinese pair of Zhang Zhizen and Xin Wang came in the draw as alternates at the last moment. They defeated the Brazilian pair of Luisa Stefani and Thiago Seyboth Wild in the first round and then upset the second-seeded Australian pair of Matthew Ebden and Ellen Perez.
Of the two pairs, the Dutch team is a more prolific doubles player. Koolhof is a former World No. 1 in doubles with Grand Slam titles in men's and mixed doubles, and Schuurs is a former top 10 player herself in doubles as well. The Chinese team has a doubles Grand Slam champion in Xin Wang who won the Women's doubles title at last year's French Open.
However, collectively, the Dutch pair is the more experienced and effective doubles team than their Chinese opponents and therefore will have the advantage in the upcoming match.
Predicted winner- Wesley Koolhof/ Demi Schuurs