Stuttgart 2022: Anett Kontaveit vs Angelique Kerber preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick | Porsche Tennis Grand Prix
Match details
Fixture: (5) Anett Kontaveit vs Angelique Kerber.
Tournament: Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.
Round: First round (Round of 32).
Venue: Stuttgart, Germany.
Category: WTA 500.
Surface: Outdoor clay.
Prize money: $757,900.
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Amazon Prime Video.
Anett Kontaveit vs Angelique Kerber preview
Fifth seed Anett Kontaveit will begin her campaign at the Porsche Grand Prix against two-time champion Angelique Kerber.
The Estonian has picked up from where she left off last season. Having won four titles in the second half of last year, Kontaveit kicked off 2022 with a run to the semifinals in Sydney.
After a brief stutter at the Australian Open, the 26-year-old picked up momentum, triumphing in St. Petersburg and finishing as the runner-up in Doha. Her exploits propelled her to a career-high world ranking of No. 5.
Anett Kontaveit doing her first ever Porsche Parking Challenge. https://t.co/rghX0bMnNI
Kontaveit, however, managed to win a grand total of one match in Indian Wells and Miami. With the tour moving to clay, the World No. 6 will be hoping to rediscover her magical touch again.
Former World No. 1 Angelique Kerber, meanwhile, showed signs of a resurgence last year with a title at Bad Homburg and semi-final appearances at Wimbledon and Cincinnati. She also made the quarterfinals at Indian Wells and the fourth round of the US Open.
However, the 34-year-old hasn't been able to build on those strong performances this season. Part of that was due to a positive COVID-19 test that affected her schedule.
In her pre tournament presscon in Stuttgart Angelique Kerber announced that she will play the relegation for Germany in novembre to stay in world groupe: "in good and in bad times", she said with a smile.
Imo a big statement that early in the season but very helpful for next gen https://t.co/sJt628sU4H
The three-time Grand Slam champion has managed to play just four tour-level events all season, winning only a couple of matches. Having succumbed to a defeat in both Billie Jean King Cup qualifier ties last week, the German heads to Stuttgart with a shabby 2-6 win-loss record for the year.
She will now desperately try to get some rhythm in a tournament she's won twice in the past.
Anett Kontaveit vs Angelique Kerber head-to-head
Kontaveit leads Kerber 4-1 in the head-to-head. All their matches have been straightforward affairs, finishing in straight sets. One of those meetings was in Stuttgart four years ago, where the German retired whilst trailing 6-0, 2-0.
Their most recent clash in Doha last year ended in a 6-1, 6-4 victory for Kontaveit.
Anett Kontaveit vs Angelique Kerber odds
(All odds sourced from BetMGM)
Anett Kontaveit vs Angelique Kerber prediction
Anett Kontaveit has dominated the rivalry with Angelique Kerber and is the favorite to come through this contest.
Kontaveit has been playing at a much higher level than Kerber over the past few months. That said, the Estonian could take some time to make the transition from hardcourt to clay. She needs to be patient and time her shots well in order to have good results on such a physically demanding surface.
However, with Kerber currently in a slump, Kontaveit might find the transition a bit easier. The World No. 6 needs to avoid engaging in too many long rallies with the southpaw. If Kontaveit can take control of the points early, she should have the upper hand in the match.
Prediction: Anett Kontaveit to win in straight sets.