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Notes from the Tour: Chasing Diana...
Thursday 18th September 2025
Some players are hard to catch right…
But sometimes, you just need to give them time…
If you’re a long-time Ones to Watch reader then you may well remember Sofia Kenin. The American appeared in our pre-season 2020 report. And went on to win that year’s Australian Open for us at 50/1…
Prior to that big win Down Under. I had unsuccessfully tipped Kenin at various tournaments, no fewer than nine times. But it worked out well in the end. Sonya also went on to reach the French Open final for Ones to Watch members that season, backed at 40/1 Each Way.
I’m hoping to plot a similar course with current Ones to Watch regular, Diana Shnaider…
The Russian left-hander featured in last year’s pre-season report. When she was still a teenager, ranked no.93 in the world - and yet to win a title. Shnaider went on to have a stellar year in 2024, winning four tournaments. I wasn’t on her for any of them…
Here goes the story…
These are Diana Shnaider’s titles and finals to date, along with the starting prices in the Outright Winner market:
WTA Ningbo 2023 @ 33/1 - runner-up
WTA Hua Hin 2024 @ 40/1 - won
WTA Bad Homburg 2024 @ 50/1 - won
WTA Budapest 2024 @ 3/1 - won
WTA Hong Kong 2024 @ 10/3 - won
WTA Monterrey 2025 @ 10/1 - won
And after consulting my spreadsheets this afternoon, here is my tale of woe - so far, at least - in terms of finding the current world no.19 hard to ‘catch right’...
With Shnaider backed to no avail at these prices, in these tournaments:
WTA Monterrey 2023 @ 50/1 - lost in 1st round
WTA Miami 2024 @ 250/1 - lost in 2nd round
French Open 2024 @ 500/1 - lost in 1st round
Wimbledon 2024 @ 80/1 - lost in 3rd round
US Open 2024 @ 40/1 - lost in 4th round
WTA Beijing 2024 @ 40/1 - lost in 3rd round
WTA Madrid 2025 @ 100/1 - lost in 4th round
French Open 2025 @ 66/1 - lost in 2nd round
WTA Queen’s 2025 @ 33/1 - quarter final
Wimbledon 2025 @ 100/1 - 2nd round
WTA Seoul 2025 @ 22/1 - lost in 2nd round
That’s 11 and nil so far for me. But I’m not giving up…
As I always, always say: it only takes one. One trophy win at a big price. And all will be well on the ‘Shnaider spreadsheet.’
Hope springs eternal…
Shnaider is still only 21 years of age. That’s the same age Kenin was when she won her first Grand Slam. Diana is still improving, and I reckon there’s a lot more to come.
Kenin played 13 Grand Slam tournaments before she reached her first Major final. Shnaider has played 12…
I’m keeping Diana Shnaider on the Ones to Watch list. She’s got the game, and the attitude. And time is on her side, too. Watch this space.
P.S
There’s a big tournament coming up next week. The China Open in Beijing is a high-ranking, WTA 1000 event. I’ll be studying the form, draw, and prices, ready to send out our next big-odds Each Way selections to members…
Enjoy the tennis…
Best wishes,
Oliver Upstone