Jule Niemeier vs Petra Kvitová Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Mutua Madrid Open

Prediction published on 26/04/2023, 06:45  by Devesh Jaganath in Tennis Predictions

After an entertaining first round of matches, the WTA Madrid will head into the Round of 64 with Jule Niemeier taking on Petra Kvitova on Thursday morning. Niemeier, currently ranked 67th in the world standings, has made a poor start on the clay this year, failing to get past the opening rounds in her last two tournament appearances. In Charlestown, at the start of the month, Niemeier was knocked out by Caty McNally, while in Stuttgart, it was Elena Rybakina that sent her packing. Niemeier recorded her first win on this surface for the year in the first round here in Madrid by overcoming Xin Yu Wang in straight sets and will hope that she can kick on from here. However, standing in her way is the formidable Kvitova, who got the better of her on the hard surface last year. 

The experienced campaigner, Petra Kvitova, has been a force yet again this year and comes to Madrid riding a wave of confidence after earning her first title of the year last month at the Miami Masters. Along the way, the Czech took down the likes of Ekaterina Alexandrova and Sorana Cirstea before overcoming 10th seed Elena Rybakina in straight sets in the final match. Kvitova is now 17-5 for the year and will step onto the clay for the first time in 2023 in this match, having received a first-round buy. The Czech struggled on this surface last year, recording just one win in four matches. But, carrying solid form into this tournament and coming up against an opponent that has been struggling of late, Kvitova will be expecting to get her 2023 clay-court record off to a positive start.