Caroline Garcia vs Angelique Kerber Prediction & Betting Tips - United Cup

Prediction published on 30/12/2023, 14:00  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 31/12/2023 at 05:28 in United Cup Predictions

Caroline Garcia takes on Angelique Kerber in the United Cup. This is the opening match for France in Group D of this hard court team tournament that also includes Italy. One match has been played in this group and that saw Germany get a 2-1 win over Italy. Now France play their first match with the other singles seeing Adrian Mannarino up against Alexander Zverev who beat Lorenzo Sonego in his opening singles match. The pressure will be on Garcia to get a win with Mannarino not being expected to win his match. Garcia is ranked 20th in the world but was in the top ten in October. Her ranking slumped after poor performances in Cincinnati and the US Open after impressive 2022 performances in those events. The French player did show some improved form in the latter stages of the 2023 season. A semi-final was reached in Guadalajara and there were last eight appearances in two Asian tournaments. 

Angelique Kerber has already played one match in this tournament. That was against Italy's Jasmine Paolini and the German was beaten in straight sets. Kerber is a former world number one but only got into the German United Cup team on a protected ranking of 31st. That's because Kerber is making her comeback after giving birth earlier this year. Before the loss to Paolini, her last match had been at the 2022 Wimbledon championships when losing to Elise Mertens. Kerber has won six of her previous nine matches against Garcia. They last met two years ago and it was the French player who got the win. We believe that Garcia can get the win here.