Stuttgart 2022: Emma Raducanu vs Storm Sanders preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick | Porsche Tennis Grand Prix
Match details
Fixture: (8) Emma Raducanu vs (Q) Storm Sanders.
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.
Emma Raducanu vs Storm Sanders preview
US Open champion Emma Raducanu will square off against qualifier Storm Sanders in the opening round of the 2022 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.
Raducanu has failed to replicate the kind of tennis that saw her win her maiden Grand Slam title in New York last year.
She received a 6-0, 6-1 drubbing from Elena Rybakina in her first match of the season at the Sydney Tennis Classic. The Brit defeated Sloane Stephens in the first round of the Australian Open, but lost to Danka Kovinic in three sets in the next round.
At the WTA 250 event in Guadalaraja, she retired from her first-round match towards the end of the third set. Raducanu notably served for the match in the second set.
The teenager's woes continued as she suffered three-set losses at the Indian Wells Open and the Miami Open in the third and second rounds respectively.
She then made her Billie Jean King Cup debut and won her first professional match on clay, defeating Tereza Martincova 7-5, 7-5.
However, Raducanu lost her next match 6-1, 6-1 against Marketa Vondrousova after being hampered by blisters on her foot.
She's now set to play in her first WTA tournament on clay in Stuttgart.
♀️First pro clay court match, no problem 💁♀️
Team GB debutant @EmmaRaducanu levels the tie 7-5 7-5 in Prague
#BJKCup | @the_LTA https://t.co/VM8P9vgAly
Storm Sanders' results in singles haven't been that promising this year. On the few occasions that she managed to secure her place in the main draw, she lost in the opening round.
Her best results have all been in doubles, as she reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and the Indian Wells Open. She also won the Adelaide International alongside Ashleigh Barty.
Welcome to the main draw, @stormsanders94! The Australian wins 6-3, 6-4 over Tamara Korpatsch and is the last winner of the qualifying rounds.
#porschetennis #PTGP22 https://t.co/Hz1koulFrg
In Stuttgart, Sanders once again had to compete in the qualifying rounds. She defeated Mara Guth and Tamara Korpatsch in straight sets to book her spot in the main draw.
Emma Raducanu vs Storm Sanders head-to-head
The two have faced off once previously, with Raducanu leading 1-0 in the head-to-head. She defeated the Australian in straight sets at the 2021 Nottingham Open.
Emma Raducanu vs Storm Sanders odds
All odds are sourced from BetMGM.
Emma Raducanu vs Storm Sanders prediction
Much will depend on whether Raducanu is fully fit or not, as she was severely hampered by blisters on her foot in her match against Vondrousova on Saturday. She managed to beat Martincova, a top-50 player, before her foot problems surfaced, so getting past Sanders shouldn't be too difficult if she is fully fit.
The Brit's serve, which was a huge asset during her US Open run, has been hit and miss recently. In her two matches in the Billie Jean King Cup, her serving stats were less than stellar. She also committed 22 unforced errors in her match against Vondrousova, although many of those could be attributed to her physical issues.
Sanders is a tough fighter, but she lacks the power and killer instinct to get over the finish line against the best in the game. She has won just one of eight matches against top-20 players and Raducanu could use this to her advantage.
If healthy, the teenager should be able to score her maiden WTA win on clay.
Pick: Emma Raducanu to win in three sets.