Italian Open 2020: Garbine Muguruza vs Johanna Konta Preview, Head-to-Head, Prediction


Italian Open 2020: Garbine Muguruza vs Johanna Konta Preview, Head-to-Head, Prediction

Garbine Muguruza vs Johanna Konta

Two-time Major winner and 9th-seed Garbine Muguruza will lock horns with 7th-seed Johanna Konta in a third-round encounter at the Italian Open 2020. The contest may very well be termed as the ‘battle of evens’ as both the women have come into this tournament after an indifferent US Open, though, have looked good at the WTA Premier 5 event.

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Garbine Muguruza vs Johanna Konta: Preview

Talking about the performance in the tournament so far, Muguruza easily sailed past former US Open champ Sloane Stephens 6-3, 6-3 in the opening round. However, the 26-year old Spaniard faced a stern test from American teenager Coco Gauff in the next round. The World No.17 had to play out of her skin to secure a hard-fought win over Gauff 7-6, 3-6, 6-3.

On the other hand, after getting a first-round bye, Konta faced Irina-Camelia Begu in the Round of 32. The 29-year old Brit faced no difficulty as she breezed past Begu in straight sets 6-0, 6-4.

Garbine Muguruza vs Johanna Konta: Head-to-Head

Johanna Konta

The ‘battle of evens’ is evident even in the head-to-head record. Currently, Muguruza and Konta are tied at 2-2. Their last meeting came in 2019 in a Round of 64 match at the Australian Open, where Muguruza scraped past Konta 6-4, 6-7, 7-5 in a three-set thriller.

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Garbine Muguruza vs Johanna Konta: Prediction

Garbine Muguruza

Muguruza is a former French Open champion while Konta is yet to win a major tournament on red clay, which clearly indicates that the Spaniard has an edge over Konta when it comes to clay-court events. In terms of every other thing, including form, there is rather nothing to separate these two athletes right now. So the advantage of clay is what might help Muguruza win the contest and eventually take a lead in head-to-head meets.

Match Prediction: Garbine Muguruza defeats Johanna Konta in a close encounter, that is almost certain to go to the distance.

Also Read: Italian Open 2020: Konta, Muguruza, Azarenka cruise through Round of 16 as Kenin, Gauff crash out