Diana Shnaider vs Marie Bouzkova Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Birmingham

Prediction published on 19/06/2024, 02:40  by Daniel Ngulu | Modified on 19/06/2024 at 02:47 in Tennis Predictions

Eighth seed Marie Bouzkova will seek a second victory over the unseeded Diana Shnaider when they square off next at the Birmingham Classic. The two will battle in the second round with the winner advancing to play either Elisabetta Cocciaretto or Sloane Stephens in the quarter-finals.

Shnaider is seeking to win multiple main draw matches on grass at a tour event for the first time. The Russian has played only four matches on grass in her career.

She made her main draw debut on grass in Hertogenbosch a week ago where she was eliminated in the first round. Shnaider defeated the qualifier Amelia Rajecki by the loss of eight games in the first round. This was win number 23 in 35 outings this year.

The 20-year-old, who has now moved up to 48th in the live ranking, is having her best campaign at tour level. She triumphed in Hua Hin to earn her first career tour title and also has set career-best finishes in Rome, Miami and Indian Wells.

Marie Bouzkova is a much more experienced player on grass than Shnaider. Coupling this with her head-to-head advantage in this fixture should have her confident of advancing to the quarter-finals for a second time.

The Czech player defeated Shnaider in straight sets in their only encounter last year in Nanchang. Bouzkova, who is making her third main draw appearance in Birmingham, defeated crowd favourite Heather Watson in the first round.

She had to come back from losing the first set to eliminate the Briton who is a former Birmingham semi-finalist. The win was the 13th of a topsy-turvy campaign for the 25-year-old who has now moved up to 36th in the live ranking.