Stuttgart 2022: Bianca Andreescu vs Jule Niemeier preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick | Porsche Tennis Grand Prix
Match details
Fixture: Bianca Andreescu vs (WC) Jule Niemeier.
Date: 19 April 2022.
Tournament: Porsche Tennis Grand Prix 2022.
Round: First round (Round of 32).
Venue: Stuttgart, Germany.
Category: WTA 500.
Surface: Clay.
Prize money: $757,900.
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Amazon Prime Video.
Bianca Andreescu vs Jule Niemeier preview
Former US Open champion Bianca Andreescu will take on home favorite Jule Niemeier in the first round of the 2022 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix on Tuesday.
Andreescu will be appearing in her first tournament of the year. She hasn't competed since her third-round loss at the 2021 Indian Wells Open in October last year. The Canadian decided to skip this year's Australian Open in order to recover mentally and physically following a taxing 2021 season. Her prolonged absence from the tour has resulted in her ranking dropping outside the top 100.
Andreescu's experience on clay is rather limited, as she has competed in just three tournaments. She has participated at Roland Garros twice, with a second-round appearance in 2019 being her best finish. She reached her first quarterfinal on the red dirt at the WTA 250 event in Strasbourg last year, but withdrew prior to her match against Sorana Cîrstea due to an injury.
warming up for practice in Stuttgart @PorscheTennis 
Jule Niemeier in R1Bianca Andreescu 🇨🇦 warming up for practice in Stuttgart @PorscheTennis
Her and coach @sventennis getting things tuned and ready for her return.
She plays 🇩🇪 Jule Niemeier in R1 https://t.co/eWRXOaOndt
Jule Niemeier has played two main-draw matches this year after coming through the qualifying rounds. At the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy, she lost to Petra Kvitova 6-2, 6-1 in the first round.
At the Monterrey Open, Niemeier put up a tough fight against Heather Watson, but eventually lost 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(4). She failed to make it past the qualifying rounds in four events.
Bianca Andreescu vs Jule Niemeier head-to-head
This will be the first meeting between the two, so the head-to-head is tied at 0-0 for now.
Bianca Andreescu vs Jule Niemeier odds
Although Andreescu hasn't competed in a long time, she's still favored to win this match considering her past performances and achievements.
All odds are sourced from BetMGM.
Bianca Andreescu vs Jule Niemeier prediction
With Andreescu returning after a lengthy layoff on a surface where she lacks experience, her chances might seem slim on paper. However, the 2019 US Open champion couldn't have asked for an easier start in Stuttgart. Niemeier's record against top players doesn't inspire much confidence and she's in a wretched run of form.
Andreescu, on her part, will look to implement her versatile style of play. She's partial to her forehand, which she can either hit flat or with topspin. She also likes to throw in a few drop shots to catch her opponents off guard.
Niemeier has enough firepower to stay with Andreescu and playing in front of her home crowd might inspire her to raise her level. But the German has a tendency to spray errors and double faults, which could prove costly against a player like Andreescu.
The Canadian, despite lacking in match play at the moment, should be able to make a winning return to tennis.
Pick: Bianca Andreescu to win in three sets.