World no. 66, Anna Blinkova, will take on Anna-Lena Friedsam of Germany, the world number 92, in the second round of the 2023 Strasbourg Open on Tuesday, May 23. Get the live streaming options of this Anna Blinkova v Anna-Lena Friedsam match along with its preview, head-to-head, and tips here.
- Other Strasbourg Open match previews & predictions options here
Anna Blinkova v Anna-Lena Friedsam Head to Head
The pair have played each other once before, on a hard court in a Challenger event in France eight years ago, Friedsam winning in three sets.
Also Read:
Blinkova Made to Battle by Lowly Ranked Opponent
Blinkova won her maiden WTA title last October on hard courts in Transylvania.
Although not known as a clay court specialist, she would have anticipated an easy passage into the second round after being drawn against Amandine Hesse of France, the world number 691.
Whether that caused Blinkova to underestimate her opponent, only she will know, as the pair swapped breaks twice in the first set, before Hesse broke her once more to claim the set.
That seemed to stun Blinkova into action and normal service was resumed, as far as she was concerned in the second set, which she took without dropping a game.
When she broke again at the start of the third set, victory seemed in sight, but Hesse had other ideas and broke back. Once more Blinkova was forced to raise her game, broke once more, and, this time, she made her advantage stick.
Also Read:
Friedsam Thrashes Chinese Third Seed
Friedsam is better known as a hard court player, having reached two WTA finals, five years apart, in Linz and Lyon, finishing on the losing side each time. The German’s record at the French Open, where she has never been beyond the first round, suggests that this is a player not at home on clay.
And that was confirmed by her record on tour this year, not having won a main draw match on the surface.
Not that anybody would have known this from the way she ruthlessly thrashed the number three seed, Shuai Zhang of China in their first round match.
The German blitzed through the first set in just 22 minutes, without conceding a game and dropping just two points on her own serve. Zhang made more of a fight of it in the second set by making it last five minutes more, but again she suffered the embarrassment of failing to win a single game.
It was all done and dusted in 47 minutes.
Blinkova v Friedsam Prediction and Tip
If Friedsam can find the same form she showed in beating the third seed, Blinkova will have a job on her hands in staying with her, especially as she was less than convincing herself in her first round victory.
Tips:
- Low Risk Tip: Friedsam to win: 6/7
- Moderate Risk Tip: Over 21.5 games in the match: 11/10
The 2023 WTA Strasbourg Open will be played from May 21 to 27. You can get all the tennis betting news with our tennis betting blog here. Also get rest of the tennis match previews here.
Be the first to comment