Roland Garros: Donna Vekic vs Irina Bara preview, head-to-head & prediction | French Open 2020
Match details:
Fixture: Donna Vekic vs Irina Bara
Date: 29 September 2020
Tournament: Roland Garros 2020
Round: First Round (Round of 128)
Venue: Paris, France
Category: Grand Slam
Surface: Red clay
Prize money: Approx, €38,000,000
Match timing: Approx. 1 pm CEST, 4.30 pm IST
Live telecast: - NBC Sports/Tennis Channel | India - Star Sports/Disney+ Hotstar VIP
Also check out: The Complete French Open 2020 Results
Donna Vekic vs Irina Bara preview
26th seed Donna Vekic will be looking to start her week at Roland Garros on a strong note when she takes on qualifier Irina Bara in the first round on Tuesday.
The Croat has not been in top form since the resumption of the tour, having lost early to eventual champion Victoria Azarenka at the Western & Southern Open. Vekic followed that up with a third-round appearance at the US Open where she surprisingly lost to a returning Tsvetana Pironkova, bagging only five games in the process.
The World No. 30 then exited the Italian Open in the first round, at the hands of Amanda Anisimova.
Vekic is short of match practice coming into the French Open, but will likely find her opening match fairly straightforward. Romania's Irina Bara has barely found her feet on the main tour, and will be making her Grand Slam debut in Paris at the age of 25.
Donna Vekic vs Irina Bara head-to-head
The first-round match in Paris will be the first-ever career meeting between Donna Vekic and Irina Bara, so the head-to-head currently stands at 0-0.
Donna Vekic vs Irina Bara prediction
Donna Vekic's erratic game has often been a source of frustration for her fans over the last couple of years. However, the Croat's ability to rally from the back of the court has always been impressive.
Vekic has a solid baseline game and a reliable serve too. And while she has enjoyed more success on faster courts over her career, she did reach the second week in Paris last year.
The big-hitting Croat's opponent has a very different style of play in comparison. Bara has grown up on the claycourts of Bucharest, and likes playing loopy groundstrokes to prolong rallies.
All things considered, Vekic is expected to win without much trouble over the qualifier who has no experience at the Majors.
Prediction: Donna Vekic to win in straight sets.
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