World number 32 Donna Vekic will be up against comeback queen Tsvetana Pironkova in the second round of the 2021 WTA Yarra Valley Classic on Monday, February 1, with the match likely to begin at around 4:30 pm local time (6 am BST or 12 midnight Eastern Time previous day). Get the live streaming options of this Donna Vekic v Tsvetana Pironkova match along with its preview, head to head, and tips here.
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Donna Vekic v Tsvetana Pironkova Head to Head
Four previous matches between these two players have all resulted in a Pironkova victory. Of them three were played before Pironkova big break from the sport and the fourth came at the US Open last year in what was her first tournament after her return to tennis.
Pironkova crushed the seeded Vekic 6-4, 6-1 to march into the fourth round of the tournament.
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Vekic Continues to Flounder
It was the US Open of 2019. Things looked to be going exactly how Vekic wanted with a maiden fourth round appearance at the French Open that year preceding her best ever showing in a Grand Slam in Flushing Meadows.
A defeat at the hands of Belinda Bencic in the quarterfinal might have been disappointing but it showed what Vekic was capable of, that behind the promise shown from all those years, she could convert it into results.
Things have unfortunately gone rapidly downhill from there on. Even in 2019, Vekic never managed to reach the heights of that result, playing in six tournaments after that and winning only two matches. And in 2020, Vekic finished with a 8-11 win-loss record, a third round appearance at both, the Australian and US Open being her best result.
As a result her ranking has fallen from once being a top-20 player to 32nd in the world and another couple of poor results could lead to a drastic change. Vekic has already started off with a poor first round result at Abu Dhabi where she fell to a three-set defeat at the hands of Bernarda Pera, and now faces an opponent who could turn out to be a very tricky one despite her 136th rank.
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Pironkova Spares No Stones against Samsonova
After winning three successive matches in the qualifiers at the Australian Open, Pironkova was drawn to take on Ludmilla Samsonova in the first round here. And while she started off a favourite, not too many expected Pironkova to come away a 6-2, 6-1 winner in that opening match, leaving Samsonova in a tizzy from her excellent mindset.
This was in line with Pironkova’s form since her return to the sport, something that saw her reach the quarterfinal at the US Open and the third round at the French Open last year. By itself, those were good results but it turns extraordinary when one looks at the context.
Pironkova was playing in her first tournament since the US Open, having taken a maternity break for more than two years. For her to then win not just the odd match, but to make it as far as the last eight and then take a set off Serena Williams before going down fighting was incredibly commendable.
She should enter this match with a whole load more confidence than her opponent for sure.
Vekic v Pironkova Prediction and Tip
It comes as no surprise that Pironkova is a favourite here but to start off 2/5 to Vekic’s 2/1 only underlines how much of a struggle it has been for the Croat. Backing Pironkova for a win here.
Tip: Pironkova to win: 2/5 (bet365)
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The 2021 WTA Yarra Valley Classic will be played from January 31. You can watch & bet on the these matches here. Get your latest premium tennis predictions here.
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