The #MallorcaOpen will welcome the strongest field in its tournament history, hosting three former world number ones and seven top-30 players in 2019. Top seed Angelique Kerber returns for the second year in the running, while five-time Major champion Maria Sharapova makes her highly-anticipated return to the tour after a five-month absence.
Top Quarter: Three Major champions set for a blockbuster clash
The first quarter of the draw in Mallorca could be said to be the best in any International-level tournament in history, featuring top seed #AngeliqueKerber, who lost in the opening round in her debut last year, #MariaSharapova, who is making her debut in Mallorca, and #VictoriaAzarenka, who has been a frequent participant here.
Kerber faces a qualifier in the opening round and a clash with Sharapova could come as early as the second round. Sharapova will need to battle past the rising star #ViktoriaKuzmova in the opening round and that would be a tough task as it will just be her first match since early February having undergone a minor procedure on her shoulder.
Local wildcard #PaulaBadosaGilbert faces a very tough opponent in #AlisonRiske, who is the closest we have to a “grass specialist” on the tour as she is currently riding on a 10-match winning streak having lifted titles in Manchester (ITF) and Nottingham (WTA) in the past weeks.
The first quarter features another blockbuster clash between Victoria Azarenka and #CarolineGarcia. The Frenchwoman triumphed in Nottingham last week and would come into Mallorca looking to continue her good run, though she will meet some tough competition from the former world number one. Fatigue might be an issue though she leads their head-to-head 2-0.
Three of the four Grand Slam champions in the tournament are drawn into the same quarter and that could be considered unfortunate for the organisers as they will lose at least one big name early in the week. Nonetheless, that also means that we could get early blockbuster matches such as a potential Kerber-Sharapova in the second round and a Kerber/Sharapova-Azarenka match in the quarterfinals.
The German will look to get her grass-court season off to a great start here although it will be interesting to see how Sharapova will perform in her first event back from a lingering shoulder injury. Being “pain-free” now, the Russian can cause some trouble for the higher-ranked players this week if she can find her vintage form and get straight to business. Azarenka receives yet another tough draw while Riske and Garcia could produce yet another fantastic run.
Prediction: Riske d. Kerber
Second Quarter: French Open semifinalist Anisimova returns to action
Third seed #BelindaBencic will kick off main draw play against the dangerous #RebeccaPeterson and the 2013 Wimbledon junior champion could face #ZhangShuai in the second round. It is a manageable draw handed to the Swiss, who was previously the champion in Eastbourne a couple of years ago.
#AmandaAnisimova withdrew from the Libema Open due to illness although she competed in the doubles competition there. Skyrocketing up the rankings after her run to the semifinals at the French Open, the American will return to the singles court for the first time since her huge breakthrough. Stepping onto the courts as a top-30 player, it will be intriguing to see how the 17-year-old will handle the pressure of being the favourite now.
Bencic seems to be the more experienced player on grass and this is a golden opportunity for her to display her magic on grass once more.
Prediction: Bencic d. Anisimova
Third Quarter: Can Kenin go one step further this year?
Seventh seed #SofiaKenin reached her first grass court semifinal here in Mallorca last year, falling to eventual champion #TatjanaMaria. With Maria not competing this year, can the American go one step further and lift the title? The bottom half of the draw is thrown wide open although Kenin finds herself tangled in a tough first-rounder against 2013 Wimbledon semifinalist #KirstenFlipkens.
The hard-hitting #OnsJabeur can pose some danger in the second round but Kenin’s retrieving abilities should ultimately prove too strong. Former world number four #SamanthaStosur received a wildcard into the tournament and opens against #ZhengSaisai and a potential second-round match against fellow former top-10 star #AndreaPetkovic is awaiting.
Petkovic has to first battle past #EliseMertens, the fourth seed who is struggling for results this year. The Belgian started her grass season with a disappointing straight-sets loss to Alexandrova in the opening round of the Libema Open last week and faces a huge risk of another early exit this week unless she produces some of her best tennis.
Prediction: Kenin d. Mertens
Fourth Quarter: Defending finalist Sevastova looks to lift the title
Eighth seed #KaterinaSiniakova will face #AlisonVanUytvanck in the first round and that could be a tough nut to crack. The Czech has only reached one quarterfinal on grass throughout her entire career but her opponent has managed to reach the fourth round of Wimbledon last year after defeating defending champion Muguruza en route.
#WangYafan, who has never won a WTA main draw match on grass, will battle against the resurgent #AnnaLenaFriedsam and this would be a good opportunity for the Chinese to grab her first win on this fast surface.
#MonicaPuig and #AjlaTomljanovic are set for an all-hard-hitter clash in the first round with the second seed #AnastasijaSevastova potentially waiting in the second round. Tomljanovic and Sevastova clashed in the quarterfinals last year with the Australian leading by a set and a double-break before collapsing in three sets. This time, she will be out to seek revenge. Sevastova has always performed well in Mallorca — lifting the title in 2017 before reaching the final last year as well.
Comments