Belinda Bencic vs Anett Kontaveit Prediction & Betting Tips - St. Petersburg, Russia

Prediction published on 10/02/2022, 16:31  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 10/02/2022 at 18:59 in Tennis Predictions

Fifth seeded Belinda Bencic takes on the second seed Anett Kontaveit in the quarter finals of the St Petersburg Ladies' Trophy. The Swiss player has been slipping down the rankings and is now 24th. A win here will take her up three places. Bencic is in her second quarter final of the year, the other being in Sydney where she was beaten by Paula Badosa. However, the Olympic champion lost in the second round of the Australian Open to Amanda Anisimova. This week sees her bidding to reach the final of the St Petersburg Ladies'v Trophy for the first time since 2017. Wins have come against Veronika Kudermetova in three sets (middle set lost) and then qualifier Kaja Juvan in straight sets.

Anett Kontaveit had a fantastic end to 2021 with four titles won and then losing in the final of the WTA Tour Finals. That's taken her up from 30th in the rankings and up into the top ten. The Estonian had been as high as seventh but began this week in ninth place. Winning the title would see her rise to a career high sixth. 2022 started with a run to the semi-finals in Sydney, losing to Barbora Krejcikova. It didn't go so well in the Australian Open, losing in round two to Clara Tauson. This week has gone better with wins over Jil Tiechmann in three sets (middle set being dropped) and Sorana Cirstea in straight sets..Kontaveit has twice played Bencic before and won both in straight sets. Those took place in 2020 and last year in Ostrava. Only eight games have been dropped in those two wins. This is likely to be more competitive but Kontaveit can be backed to win.

Belinda Bencic is the fifth seed for the St Peterburg Ladies Trophy. The world number 19 takes on Veronika Kudermetova in the first round. Second seeded Anett Kontaveit is in their part of the draw, so some tough battles lie ahead. Bencic has played in two tournaments so far this year. 2022 kicked off with a run to the last eight in Sydney, losing in three sets to Paula Badosa. The Australian Open didn't go too well for Bencic, losing in round two to Amanda Anisimova. Bencic reached the final of this tournament five years ago and made it to the last eight on her last appearance in 2020, losing to Maria Sakkari.  At one time last year, Bencic (who won the Olympic title) was as high as ninth in the rankings but dropped out of the top 20. She's back at 19 now and will hope for a good run this week.