Madrid Open 2022: Danielle Collins vs Bianca Andreescu preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match details
Fixture: (6) Danielle Collins vs Bianca Andreescu
Date: 1 May 2022.
Tournament: Madrid Open 2022.
Round: Second round (Round of 32).
Venue: Madrid, Spain.
Category: WTA 1000.
Surface: Clay.
Prize money: €6,744,165
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Amazon Prime Video.
Danielle Collins vs Bianca Andreescu preview
Sixth seed Danielle Collins and former US Open champion Bianca Andreescu will lock horns in a blockbuster second-round clash at the Madrid Open on Sunday.
Collins made a thunderous start to the season with a run to her first-ever Grand Slam final at the Australian Open. But she has failed to kick on since then.
After being forced to retire from her Dubai opener due to dizziness, the American returned to action in Miami, where she fell to eventual runner-up Naomi Osaka in the quarterfinals.
Collins commenced her clay season in Madrid this week. She was forced to weather a storm against Monica Puig in the first set but ran through the second to complete a 7-5, 6-0 win.
The 28-year-old will be eager to replicate this performance against Andreescu.
Andreescu, meanwhile, recently returned to the tour after a six-month hiatus to deal with mental health concerns. Her first tournament was the Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart last week, where the Canadian won her first-round match before losing to Aryna Sabalenka in three sets.
Andreescu began her debut Madrid campaign on Friday against Alison Riske. While she made a good start by pocketing the first set, the American bounced back to level the match.
Andreescu: “In my next match, I want to work more on my composure. I felt like that got the best of me a little bit in the 2nd set.
"But I just switched something on in the 3rd, b/c that's basically how I want to play. So I want to be able to consistently play that way.” #MMOPEN https://t.co/LY9q1GdVBh
Andreescu then hit peak form to grab the third set 6-0.
Danielle Collins vs Bianca Andreescu head-to-head
Collins and Andreescu have never squared off on the tour before, so their head-to-head stands at a 0-0 deadlock.
Danielle Collins vs Bianca Andreescu odds
Danielle Collins vs Bianca Andreescu prediction
Although Collins is the higher-ranked player in this clash, she has been sidelined with multiple injuries this year, limiting her to just four tournaments so far. A neck injury put her out of action at Charleston and the Billie Jean King Cup and the rust was evident when she squared off against Puig in the Madrid first round.
The American couldn't hold on to her lead in the first set and it took her some time to get into the groove. It remains to be seen how she will fare against Andreescu.
Collins, a former Roland Garros quarterfinalist, plays a highly aggressive brand of tennis. But she is quite inconsistent and can lose her rhythm quickly.
Onto round 2 for Andreescu, who will face Danielle Collins.
Riske isn't a top-shelf clay-counter (her career winning % is just over 30%. But she's a great competitor, and it's a quality win. https://t.co/gx6USYCFHq
Andreescu has more variety than Collins and likes to change the pace of rallies with drop shots, slices and the occasional moonball. She also has a better serve than the American, which could give her the edge in this match.
Prediction: Andreescu to win in three sets.