Camila Giorgi vs Jaqueline Adina Cristian Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Linz

Prediction published on 06/02/2023, 14:26  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 06/02/2023 at 15:27 in Tennis Predictions

World number 71 Camila Giorgi takes on unseeded Jaqueline Cristian (ranked 193rd) in the first round of the Linz tournament. The winner of this match will face either third seeded Irina Camelia Begu or Katerina Sianakova in round two. Giorgi was as high as 29th last August but then slipped down the rankings after losing the points earned when winning the Canadian Open in 2021. This year has got off to a good start with the Italian reaching the last 32 at the Australian Open. It didn't go so well in Lyon last week with a first qualifying round loss to Katie Swan, winning just four games.

Cristian got into the main draw of this tournament on a protected ranking. The Romanian was ranked 58th last January but then suffered a knee injury in Doha this time last year. The injury kept her off court until the US Open in late August. Her comeback didn't last too long as she lost in the first round to the second seed Anett Kontaveit, winning just three games, all in the first set. Since then, Cristian has played on the ITF circuit, winning a title in France last September. It's still been tough for her on the ATP Tour with just one win in her six final matches of 2022 and that was over a player earned outside the top 350. This year started with one win in three matches and then a nightmare draw in the Australian Open. The 24-year-old drew third seed Jessica Pegula in round one and won just one game. Back on the ITF Tour, Cristian reached the last eight in Porto last week but her wins were against low ranked players. Back Giorgi to win this.