Noma Noha Akugue vs Karolina Muchova Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Palermo Open

Prediction published on 16/07/2024, 02:33  by Daniel Ngulu | Modified on 16/07/2024 at 02:42 in Tennis Predictions

Qualifier Noma Akugue will play second seed Karolina Muchova in the second round of the 2024 Palermo Ladies Open. Heading into this clash on Wednesday, here are some stats and a prediction for the match.

In the first round, Akugue defeated fellow qualifier Mona Barthel in three sets. That was her first main draw win at tour level. Though still on a losing record, she has won 15 matches and 11 have been registered on clay. Last year, Akugue had her best-ever campaign at this stage; she earned her first tour-level final by finishing as runner-up in Hamburg.

Akugue is a strong clay player, and should be a threat to the more experienced Muchova. She seems to have found form in Palermo which works well for her ahead of this tough match. Akugue, now 168th in the live ranking, arrived in Palermo while on a five-match losing run.

Karolina Muchova began her debut in Palermo with a straight-sets win over qualifier Katarzyna Kawa. The first set of that encounter was a grueling one and ended with a 16-14 tiebreaker. Kawa was unable to continue in the second set and retired with the scores at 5-1 in favor of Muchova.

That was also Muchova’s debut on clay this season and marked her third win in four outings. The Czech player returned to the tour last month after a 10-month injury layoff. She has now moved one place to 34th in the live ranking.

She is also a good player on clay and will be confident of prolonging her tournament. This marks the first career meeting between the two players; the winner will face Astra Sharma, Ajla Tomljanovic or Mayar Sherif next.