French Open 2021: Angelique Kerber vs Anhelina Kalinina – Preview, Head to Head and Prediction for Roland Garros

In the opening round clash at the French Open 2021, World No. 27 and the 26th seed Angelique Kerber will be up against World No. 139 Anhelina Kalinina.

Match Details:

Angelique Kerber vs Anhelina Kalinina : Preview

Angelique Kerber enters the French Open 2021 to break her poor streak of first round exits from the past 2 seasons. She had reached the quarter-finals of the 2018 French Open but faced shocking exits in the first round the next 2 seasons. She reaches the Grand Slam with a record of 18-14 in Paris as it remains the only Grand Slam the former World No. 1 has not won.

This will be the 4th Clay tournament of the season for the 26th seed and her best run so far has been her Round of 16 runs at the Stuttgart Open 2021 and the Italian Open 2021.

Anhelina Kalinina will debut in main draw of the Grand Slam at the French Open 2021 as she had previously been defeated in the qualifying rounds in her last 4 attempts. The Ukranian enters the main draw with 3 consecutive straight-set wins in the qualifying rounds and reaches her 2nd Grand Slam main draw after the US Open. She has a record of 6-4 at the tournament.

Anhelina will play her first WTA tournament since the 2021 Australian Open where she was defeated in the 2nd qualifying round. She has been busy on the ITF circuit ever since, and has played 4 tournaments on Clay with 1 semi-final finish and 2 consecutive titles with which she comes to Roland Garros.

Angelique Kerber vs Anhelina Kalinina : Head to Head

This will be the first ever meeting between the two, hence the head-to-head stands at 0-0.

Angelique Kerber vs Anhelina Kalinina : Prediction

Kerber is 4-3 on Clay this season and has been performing poorly on the surface for the past 5 seasons. She will look to overcome her French Open woes as she comes well rested into the tournament and will look to better her record as faces an opponent who is more than 100 ranks below her.

Anhelina has been sensational on Clay this season on the ITF circuit coming in with a 16-2 record. With her 2 back-to-back titles before the Grand Slam she will come in with great confidence as she faces a struggling Kerber and will look to get her maiden win at the French Open. However, her WTA record is not same as ITF and she would like to replicate it.

Prediction: Angelique Kerber to win in 3-sets in the first round of the French Open 2021.

Also Read: French Open 2021: Women’s Singles Draw Preview and Predictions