WTA Italian Open 2021: Simona Halep vs Angelique Kerber–Preview, Head to Head and Prediction

WTA Italian Open 2021: Simona Halep vs Angelique Kerber–Preview, Head to Head and Prediction

Simona Halep and Angelique Kerber

Simona Halep will take on Angelique Kerber in the Second round of the Italian Open 2021. Halep is currently the World No.3 on the WTA rankings and Kerber is the World No.26.  

Match Details

  • Tournament: WTA Italian Open
  • Match: Simona Halep vs Angelique Kerber
  • Round: Second Round
  • Date: 12th May, 2021
  • Prize Money: €10,726
  • Venue: Rome, Italy
  • Surface: Clay Court

Simona Halep vs Angelique Kerber: Match Preview

Simona Halep
Simona Halep

Simona Halep has not started the clay court season as well as she would have liked to. In the two tournaments that she has participated in so far, she reached the Semi Finals at Stuttgart, and the round of sixteen at Madrid. At Stuttgart she got beaten by Aryna Sabalenka and Madrid saw her lose to Elise Mertens. At Rome, she had a bye in the first round and will face the Thirty-three year old veteran German Angelique Kerber in the second round.

Kerber who is a three time Grand Slam winner, who won twelve WTA Titles, last won a trophy in 2018. And that has been her story on tour since 2018, second-third round finishes. In the first round, she beat another veteran Alizé Cornet of France, 6-2 7-5. 

FS Video
YouTube video

Simona Halep vs Angelique Kerber: Head-to-Head

Angelique Kerber
Angelique Kerber

These two players have met each other thirteen times on the tour before, and  Halep leads the head to head 7-6. Their last meeting was at Eastbourne, which Kerber won 6-4 6-3. 

Simona Halep vs Angelique Kerber: Prediction

Simona Halep
Simona Halep

Halep’s game has been hampered by a shoulder problem for a while now, and it has directly affected her clay court performances this year. A fully fit Halep on clay is a formidable opponent, but she doesn’t look to be completely fit. Kerber was not the best on clay eleven when she was No.1 in the world, so it’s not as if she is going to trouble Halep a lot, unless Halep starts struggling with the injury. 

Match Prediction: Simona Halep will beat Angelique Kerber in straight sets. 

Also Read: WTA Italian Open 2021: Iga Swiatek vs Madison Keys–Preview, Head to Head and Prediction