Ash Barty will take on Karolina Pliskova in the Quarter-final of the Stuttgart Open 2021. Barty is currently the World no.1 on the WTA rankings and Pliskova is the World no.9.
Match Details
- Tournament: Stuttgart Open 2021
- Match: Ash Barty Vs Karolina Pliskova
- Round: Quarter-final
- Date: 23rd April, 2021
- PrizeMoney: $ 18,553
- Venue: Stuttgart, Germany
- Surface: Clay Court
Ash Barty Vs Karolina Pliskova: Match Preview
Barty took time out from the tour after the Australian leg, and joined back in the Miami Open. Playing some scintillating tennis at Miami, Barty captured the crown. She had a small hiccup when she was ousted at the Quarter-final stage of the Charleston Open, but she has started the Stuttgart Open magnificently. After a bye in the first round, she took on wildcard entry and former champion the German Laura Siegemund in the second round. Barty dominated the match from the start and took the first set 6-0. The second was a tighter affair, but Barty closed the match in two sets winning 6-0 7-5.
Her Quarter-final opponent is Karolina Pliskova. Pliskova has been out of form and out of sorts for a while now. She labored to a three set victory against Tamara Korpatsch in the first round, 7-5 3-6 6-3. In the second round match against Jelena Ostapenko she recovered from losing the first set via tie-break to comeback and win the match in three sets, 6-7 6-4 6-3.
Ash Barty Vs Karolina Pliskova: Head-to-Head
The two players have met sixes times on the tour before, with Barty leading the head to head 4-2. Their last encounter was in the 2019 WTA Championships, Barty won that match in three sets 4-6 6-2 6-3.
Ash Barty Vs Karolina Pliskova: Prediction
Barty came into this tournament having won the Miami Open and after playing a few matches on the green clay courts of Charleston. So there was a small apprehension within her fans, if she could transition playing on the indoor, faster red courts of Stuttgart. Well, Barty has taken to the red clay courts like a duck takes to water. Her overall variety, her lobs, slices, drop shots are tailor made for these surfaces.
Pliskova will have a hard time dealing with such variety, as we know she is not the best mover on court. Pliskova served 21 aces against Ostapenko and would have to do that and much more to stand a chance against Barty.
Match Prediction: Ash Barty will beat Karolina Pliskova in straight sets.
Also Read: ‘Got Covid-19 vaccine, but did not jump queue’: Ash Barty
