World number 23 Elise Mertens will take on Czech player Kristyna Pliskova in their Prague Open 2020 semifinal on Saturday, August 15. The match will begin at around 12.30 pm local time (11.30 am BST). Get the live streaming options of this Elise Mertens v Kristyna Pliskova match along with its preview, head to head and tips here.
Looking to watch WTA tennis live streaming online?
- For tennis fans in the UK, Europe, Australia & elsewhere go to bet365 > Tennis > Live Streaming here* to watch & bet on the ATP & WTA tennis live.
- Get the latest tennis predictions here
[the_ad id=”14063″]
*Geo-restrictions apply & pre-funded account needed
Elise Mertens v Kristyna Pliskova Head to Head
This will be the third meeting between Mertens and Pliskova and this has been bit of a no-contest so far. Both have been won by Mertens and in straight sets with the only time Pliskova actually showing some fight was in the second set of their first meeting at the Doha Open in 2018. She took it to a tie-breaker, only to lose it 7-3.
Also Read:
Mertens Shrugging Off Palermo Ouster
Mertens was one of the top players in Palermo but was a shock loss in the very first round last week. Which is why, coming into this tournament there were doubts over her match fitness, having not played a single match during the pandemic break.
The Dutchwoman world number 23 has quelled most of them with three solid showings. In the first round Mertens still looked a tad rusty when she overcame Jasmine Paolini in three hard-fought sets but then looked like she was at her best in the second round against Camila Giorgi.
Giorgi herself has been in some form but Mertens disposed off her opponent 6-4, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinal where she faced Eugenie Bouchard on Friday. Now, under normal circumstances a player of the pedigree of Mertens shouldn’t have had any difficulties in getting past a player ranked outside the top 300 but this was a different Bouchard we were speaking of.
Bouchard, over this week, has shown what she is capable of and how she managed to reach that Wimbledon final all those years ago. And she did snatch a set off Mertens in this match but the world number 23 came back in the third to help her reach her first semifinal of the year.
[the_ad id=”14063″]
Pliskova Progresses After Bogdan Injury
A total of seven games were in action in the first set in the quarterfinal match between Pliskova and Romania’s Ana Bogdan. Bogdan led 5-2 before having to retire from the encounter to give Pliskova her second semifinal berth of the season.
Earlier, she had made it to the semifinal at the Shenzhen Open, her first tournament of the year, where she had stunned Aryna Sabalenka en route her loss to Elena Rybakina.
She went on a four-match losing streak before the pandemic break and even on returning to the sport while playing exhibition tournaments, Pliskova lost three in a row to make it seven successive defeats.
Since then, however, the form is back for the Czech world number 69, which has included a fighting second round loss to Sara Errani in Palermo and a semifinal here. She has already gotten past Petra Martic in this tournament and now faces another challenge in the form of Mertens.
Elise Mertens v Kristyna Pliskova Prediction & Tip
Mertens is 4/9 to win this as opposed to bet365’s offer of 7/4 for a Pliskova win. We think we could see another three-setter which Mertens scoops home.
Tip: Mertens to win in three sets: 3/1 (bet365)
You can watch & bet on the WTA Prague on Saturday, August 15 here. Get the latest tennis predictions and tips here.
Be the first to comment