Elena-Gabriela Ruse vs Bernarda Pera Prediction & Betting Tips - Hamburg, Germany, Qualifying

Prediction published on 18/07/2022, 14:15  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 18/07/2022 at 15:51 in Tennis Predictions

Elena Gabriela Ruse is the ninth seed at the Hamburg Open. The Romanian is also the defending champion but has a tough match against Bernarda Pera in the first round. Ruse was a career high 51st in the rankings two months ago but as low as 72nd earlier this month. She'd love to be able to find the form that won her this title in 2021. Ruse had to qualify but then beat three seeds before defeating Andrea Petkovic in the final. That's her only WTA Tour title so far in her career. This year hasn't gone well for the Romanian and she's yet to get past the last 16 of a tournament. This is being played on clay and her best performance on this surface in 2022 has been reaching the last 16 in Madrid. There was a bit of luck there as she was 5-1 down in the first set of a qualifier against Lauren Davis when she retired, but then got into the main draw as a lucky loser.. Her last four matches on clay have all been lost, most recently in Budapest last week. Ruse didn't have a good grass court season either and comes into this tournament having lost seven of her last eight matches. That includes losing to Pera in Strasbourg in May making their head-to-head history 1-1 after a loss four years ago..

Bernarda Pera is the world number 81 but on July 11 was ranked 130th. Her ranking went up by 49 places in the latest list due to her winning the Budapest title on Sunday. That was quite some win because seven matches had to be won to lift the title as the American began in the qualifiers. Not one set was lost in that tournament with two top 55 players defeated. It was a rather unexpected title win considering Pera had lost her previous five matches. She does tend to blow hot and cold because before that poor run, Pera got to the final of a WTA 125 clay court tournament in Germany. A quarter final in Saint Malo was also reached, so Pera is a real threat on this surface when in form. Pera will hope for a continuation of last week's form. Back her to get the win here and knock out the defending champion.