Defending champion, USA’s Alison Riske returns to the historic German city of Nurnberg, as currently the #4 seed. Yulia Putintseva is the top seed. We look ahead with the WTA WTA Nurnberg 2019 Preview.
WTA Nurnberg 2019 Preview
#2 Seed Katerina Siniakova Hoping to Continue her Form Revival
The Czech Katerina Siniakova is the #2 seed in Nurnberg. It’s been a disappointing season for Siniakova so far, but there a signs of late, of improved form. It’d be great for her and her country if that continued, giving momentum going into the French Open 2019. Siniakova is 3-4 on clay currently, and three wins would guarantee her a winning record going into Roland Garros.
Siniakova is getting closer to her old form. She was neck and neck with the promising Kasatkina in the second round in Rome last week, before falling apart in the third set. A good Nurnberg tournament will be a great shot in the arm for Siniakova in her bid to improve her season’s form.
Andrea Petkovic and Mona Barthel Leads the German Charge
#9 seed and World #69 Andrea Petkovic is the top ranked home country player in the draw. It is not often that you go to a tournament wanting it to rain. However, exceptions are normally made where Petkovic is concerned. The ebullient German has been known to strut away rain delays with some rhythmic dancing. On the tennis side of things, she’ll be hoping to put behind her a disappointing loss to American Jessica Pegula in the first round in Prague. Petkovic could do some damage in Nurnberg if she is on song.
World #85 Mona Barthel is the 2nd highest ranked German in the Nurnberg draw. Barthel was ranked as high as World #23 last year, but is struggling for consistency. A 2-4 clay record this season doesn’t tell the full story. She started badly, lacking in confidence. A tough three set defeat to Romania’s Sorana Cirstea in the first round in Lugano set her back. However, two solid qualifying wins and an improved display in losing to Anett Kontaveit in Rome last week gives cause for hope.
Barthel is likely to give the home crowd something to enthuse about in the doubles also. She recently partnered her compatriot Anna-Lena Friedsam to a doubles title in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart.
Jana Cepelova Looking Good So Far in Qualifying
Slovakian Jana Cepelova, ranked #211, has been looking like returning to something like her 2012 form that saw her ranked World #50. She looked sharp when dispatching the Russian World #314 Olga Dorishina in her opening qualifier 6-4 6-3. Cepelova, should she safely negotiate qualifying, could be a dangerous floater in this pre-French Open 2019 tournament.
On the topic of qualifying, Germany’s hopes of gaining another player in the main draw took a boost in Katharina Hobgarski’s victory over Kostova. The 21 year World #273 old looked composed and could make her seasonal WTA level debut.
A great week of German clay court tennis awaits.
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