WTA Italian Open 2021: Elise Mertens vs Veronika Kudermetova–Preview, Head to Head and Prediction

WTA Italian Open 2021: Elise Mertens vs Veronika Kudermetova–Preview, Head to Head and Prediction

Elise Mertens and Veronika Kudermetova

Elise Mertens will take on Veronika Kudermetova in the First-round of the Italian Open 2021. Mertens is currently the World no.14 on the WTA rankings and Kudermetova is the World no.28.  

Match Details

  • Tournament: WTA Italian Open
  • Match: Elise Mertens vs Veronika Kudermetova
  • Round: First Round
  • Date: 11th May, 2021
  • Prize Money: €8,670
  • Venue: Rome, Italy
  • Surface: Clay Court

Elise Mertens vs Veronika Kudermetova: Match Preview

Elise Mertens
Elise Mertens

Elise Mertens started the clay court leg of the season with a stumble when she got ousted in the very first match she played at the Charleston Open. But since then she has steadied herself and put together impressive performances. In the very next tournament on clay, the Istanbul Cup, she reached the Finals.

In the Finals she lost to Sorana Cîrstea. At the just concluded Madrid Open she had beaten a few very good players to reach the Quarter-finals of the event. In the Quarters she surrendered to Aryna Sabalenka, due to injury, when 1-6 0-4 down. The thigh injury she suffered was not very serious and different of course from the shoulder injury she had suffered at the Australian Open.

FS Video

Her first round opponent here is twenty-four year old Russian Veronika Kudermetova. Kudermetova had hit a patch right last month. She had the Charleston Open last month and then followed it up by reaching the Semi-final of the Istanbul Cup. Even in the Madrid Open she was playing well, but lost against a tough opponent like Petra Kvitova in the round of sixteen. Kudermetova will hope she has better luck in her first round match. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gB6j5dU9Kzc

Elise Mertens vs Veronika Kudermetova: Head-to-Head

Veronika Kudermetova
Veronika Kudermetova

These two players have met four times on the tour, and Mertens Has won all four of those encounters, so the head to head is 4-0. Their last encounter was in the Semi-finals of the Istanbul Cup which Mertens won 6-1 6-4. 

Elise Mertens vs Veronika Kudermetova: Prediction

Elise Mertens
Elise Mertens

In the last few months Mertens has first suffered a shoulder injury and in the last tournament a thigh injury. The brand of tennis that Mertens plays is aggressive and physical and not many players are built strong enough to keep playing that way without injuring herself. Having said that, if she is fully fit she will be a tough opponent for Kudermetova.

Kudermetova plays the slice well, and has the legs for long rallies. Her best bet is to not let Mertens settle and keep changing the tempo of the game using her deep returns, and slices. 

Match Prediction: Elise Mertens will beat Veronika Kudermetova in three sets. 

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