The WTA 250 in Bad Homburg kicks off with Day 1 on Monday and is the last warm up event before Wimbledon. The seeds will be looking to get deep in the event, providing confidence for the grass Slam. Everyone else will be hoping to pull off a surprise and have a good run before Wimbledon.
Bad Homburg Day 1 Predictions
Maria Sakkari vs Elisabetta Cocciaretto
Head to Head: First meeting
Maria Sakkari is the top seed here and will be hoping for better results than in the French Open and in Germany last week. The Greek lost in the early rounds in both. Her opponent Elisabetta Cocciaretto is handy on grass, having made the semifinal in Birmingham. The Italian will relish the challenge here with Sakkari low on grass confidence.
Prediction: Cocciaretto in 3
Angelique Kerber vs Diana Shnaider
Head to Head: First meeting
Angelique Kerber run on the grass so far has been poor. The German lost early in Berlin and will be desperate to find form ahead of Wimbledon. Diana Shnaider, on the other hand, has had a much better start to the short grass season. The Russian reached the quarter final in Birmingham and will be full of confidence. Kerber needs to start well against Shnaider to progress
Prediction: Shnaider in 2
Liudmila Samsonova vs Sara Sorribes Tormo
Head to Head: 0-2
Liudmila Samsonova is the second seed and had a great week on the grass in the Netherlands, winning the title in s-‘Hertogenbosch. That was followed by a first-round loss in Berlin. Staying in Germany and playing here does make sense for the seed and she will want to replicate the form she had in Holland. Sara Sorribes Tormo made the semifinal of the doubles in Birmingham. The Spaniard lost early in the singles, but will take solace from the performance in the doubles.
Prediction: Samsonova in 3
Bianca Andreescu vs Anna Blinkova
Head to Head: First meeting
Bianca Andreescu played in s-‘Hertogenbosch and made the final. The Canadian did not play in Berlin or Birmingham last week and chose to skip those in favor of Bad Homburg as the last pre-Wimbledon event. Anna Blinkova has lost early on the grass so far and will want to find some form ahead of the Wimbledon Championships. It won’t be easy for either player, but Andreescu has the edge
Prediction: Andreescu in 3
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
