The 2019 Linz Open continues on Thursday, October 10 with its remaining second round matches as Kiki Bertens takes to court again. Here’s Cori Gauff v Andrea Petkovic & Ekaterina Alexandrova v Jelena Ostapenko tips, previews and predictions for these opening round matches.
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Cori Gauff v Andrea Petkovic Predictions & Preview
This is a shock semi-final. Two unseeded players, one 15-year-old who is ranked 110th in the world and a lucky loser in the competition. Another is a 32-year-old veteran having fallen from a former best of ninth rank to 75th right now. Who would have thought. Not us, admittedly.
This will also be their first meeting which makes it even more interesting.
The way Gauff has played all tournament and even in the lead-up, it’s very evident she will be a player to watch. After all, tennis fans world over are looking for young talent and at 15 years of age, Gauff is as young as they come. But that age should not deceive anyone given her wins over Venus Williams and Kiki Bertens in recent matches. Bertens was sent packing in straight sets in her previous round match.
Incidentally, this is Gauff’s first career semifinal.
Petkovic is enjoying the time of her life. With a last WTA title having come in 2015, she looks like the best is behind her but that hasn’t stopped her from being highly competitive this year, especially in the second half of the year. A win over Petra Kvitova at the US Open took her to the third round and she has already got past Julia Goerges here. All three of her wins have come in straight sets but Gauff’s youth could test her out.
Tip: Gauff to win: 1/1 with Unibet
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Ekaterina Alexandrova v Jelena Ostapenko Tips Predictions & Preview
This will be the fifth time that Ekaterina Alexandrova will be taking on Jelena Ostapenko in their careers having also played as recently as the Eastbourne Open this year. Alexandrova was cruising to a win in that one before Ostapenko retired from the match. Overall, it’s 3-1 in favour of Alexandrova, who is ranked 35th in the world, 37 places ahead of Ostapenko.
Now Ostapenko looked to have lost her way a little since her French Open triumph more than two years ago but her recent association with Marion Bartoli has helped her immensely by the looks of things. She has shrugged off an appalling 8-14 win-loss record on hard courts to win three matches on the bounce here.
The last time Ostapenko won three matches in a row was in the 2018 Wimbledon, when she surprised a few by reaching the semifinals.
Alexandrova will be a tough nut to crack though, having made it to the final at this tournament last year. After two tough matches, she also sent out Kristina Mladenovic in straights in her quarter-final, making it to the last-four stage of the tournament like she had done at the Seoul Open.
The big question is whether Alexandrova can make it to her first ever final this season. We think so.
Tip: Alexandrova to win: 19/20 with Unibet
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