Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the WTA Bad Homburg match.
With Wimbledon just around the corner, the leading names in women's tennis are looking to fine-tune their grass-court game. Ekaterina Alexandrova enters this fixture in strong form, and her game could pose a real challenge to Iga Swiatek on this surface.
Ekaterina Alexandrova
Currently ranked No. 18 in the WTA standings, Ekaterina Alexandrova has won five of her last six matches on grass, boasting a 74% first-serve success rate and averaging eight aces per match. At ‘s-Hertogenbosch, she narrowly lost to eventual champion Elise Mertens, having failed to convert 12 match points. In Bad Homburg, she has already beaten Belinda Bencic (No. 37) and Maria Sakkari (No. 85), firing a combined 21 aces in those two matches. Historically, she has managed to take at least one set in several of her matches against Iga Swiatek, and notably has beaten Swiatek twice.
Iga Swiatek
Ranked No. 8 in the world, Iga Swiatek has yet to rediscover her top form. She hasn't claimed a title since April, and grass remains her most challenging surface. Her career win rate on grass stands at 70% (19:8), and she is still seeking a maiden title on it. In seven of her last eight matches against top-20 opponents, Iga Swiatek has dropped at least one set. In her opening round here against Victoria Azarenka, she progressed largely due to her opponent's inconsistency— Azarenka landed just 59% of her first serves and double-faulted five times.
Ekaterina Alexandrova vs Iga Swiatek Prediction
Alexandrova will put up a strong fight and take at least one set. On grass, her aggressive style and powerful serve are especially dangerous. Moreover, Alexandrova has an excellent head-to-head record against Swiatek.
