Petra Kvitova vs Marina Erakovic Prediction

Petra Kvitova, currently 6th on the WTA ranking list, is playing against Marina Erakovic, currently 61st in the rankings.

Both of the players dispatched their first round opponents with great ease, as was expected of them. Petra Kvitova showed better chops than Zarina Diyas and swept her off the field with 2:0 (7:5, 6:2), and Erakovic came out on top of her opponent in an even more leisurely manner – she beat Nadiya Kichenok from Ukraine by 2:0 (6:2, 6:1). Kvitova has won all of their previous three matches, and one of them was played on clay, so tomorrow she is, on paper, expected to win even if it isn’t her lucky day. But, Marina Erakovic showed gave a constant stream of focused, solid performances throughout the season and the Czech, who isn’t always as consistent as she should be on clay, should plan this match carefully and enter it with a go-getter attitude.

It is expected that Kvitova will be dominant in the game, clearing the way to victoru with her services and forehands, and if she is precise enough with her strokes, she should outpower Erakovic, who doesn't have the strength Kvitova has. However, Kvitova had struggled in the past on clay, making many more unforced errors than she should, and that could be Erakovic's chance to turn the match in her favor. The only New Zealand player in the top 100 will try to stay in the rallies for as long as possible and try to force Kvitova's errors, especially from the backhand side, which is her specialty. It is expected to see some unexpected rushes to the net from Erakovic too, but probably not too often, because this is a clay court.

However, Kvitova didn't show that vulnerability of hers in the first round match; so it seems that she is in a splendid shape, so we shouldn't expect that Erakovic will manage to beat her. However, Erakovic could make this match very interesting if she bites, and plays as persistently and as constantly good as she has been playing throughout the season.

Head to head

They played against each other three times in the past, and Kvitova won all of their previous matches. In their latest match, in Cincinnati last year, Erakovic won a set, so we can expect that she will try to recall that match, and her strategy in it, during her practice and planning for this clash.

Prediction

It is expected that Kvitova win in a tight match.