WTA Linz will have a full day of main draw hard court action on Tuesday with names like Angelique Kerber and Varvara Gracheva taking to the court. Here is your look at all of the matches with predictions.
Varvara Gracheva vs Jodie Burrage
Burrage is an up and coming player who keeps steadily improving in terms of results, having reached the top 100, much is expected of this young British talent, Gracheva has found some success to reach the top 50 but struggles for consistency, given the surface, I still like the experienced campaigner Gracheva to grit out a result against the upstart qualifier Burrage. Gracheva in 3
Clara Tauson vs Camila Giorgi
Tauson has won both h2h meetings including a win last year in Linz, Giorgi has a winning record overall in Linz, but her form is not great, while Tauson has also struggled at times but came through qualifying. I’ll back Tauson given the h2h record to get this win. Tauson in 2
Jaqueline Cristian vs Nadia Podoroska
Two players who are badly in need of a win right now, Cristian is a former finalist at this tournament but reaches the main draw this time as a lucky loser, Podoroska has struggled with form and health, the players have split h2h meetings, Cristian’s fitness is at least not in question so she should be a slight favorite but this match could turn in either direction. Cristian in 3
Lucrezia Stefanini vs Elisabetta Cocciaretto
Cocciaretto is the higher ranked player and has the lone h2h win but she has struggled on hard court surfaces and is in poor form overall. Stefanini was solid during the qualifying campaign, these two Italians have some upside to their game, Stefanini inspires a bit more confidence at the moment though despite the gap in ranking points. Stefanini in 2
Anna Blinkova vs Jule Niemeier
Blinkova won their only h2h meeting and was a third round performer at the Australian Open, her form looks promising at this point in time, while Niemeier has struggled to start the season despite coming through qualifying to reach this point. The German has some hard court capability but Blinkova should blitz her off the court given their diverging fortunes at the moment. Blinkova in 2
Angelique Kerber vs Lucia Bronzetti
Kerber won their only meeting, the former Grand Slam champion has returned from maternity leave and is trying to have a second stint of stardom on the WTA Tour, Bronzetti prefers to play on clay and this matchup doesn’t suit her particularly well, however Kerber’s form remains uncertain and this match may end up a long one. Kerber in 3
Clara Burel vs Sinja Kraus
Kraus is a local wild card, but she faces a tough task to get out of the first round against Burel, who is surging in form, nearly in the top 50, Burel upset Jessica Pegula in Melbourne, and has been on a hot streak since the end of last season. Burel has a game and form good enough right now to win the whole tournament, I don’t expect Kraus will offer meaningful resistance. Burel in 2
Main Photo Credit Syndication: Austin American-Statesman
