Anna Karolína Schmiedlová vs Sara Sorribes Tormo Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Hungarian Grand Prix

Prediction published on 16/07/2024, 05:44  by Ian John | Modified on 16/07/2024 at 08:29 in Tennis Predictions

Three of the four seeds in the bottom half of the Hungarian Grand Prix draw have been eliminated in Round 1. Only Sara Sorribes Tormo (4) survives after a battling 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 win over Bulgarian qualifier Gergana Topalova. Standing in her way of a spot in the quarterfinal is a match against Slovakia's Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, who was also taken to three sets in her first round win over Kamilla Rakhimova (3-6, 6-4, 6-0). What will our prediction be for this hugely competitive second round game?

For Sorribes Tormo, the win over Topalova was an important one as it ended a run of six straight defeats. After losing in the quarterfinals in Rabat in May, the Spaniard lost in the first round at the French Open, the Makarska 135, Birmingham, Bad Homburg and Wimbledon. Those last three defeats on grass came against some of the top seeds in each tournament, including a first round loss at Wimbledon to eventual finalist Jasmine Paolini. 

A return to clay will certainly help the Spaniard regain some confidence after a tough run of defeats. However, she faces a tricky opponent in the talented Slovakian Schmiedlova in what will be the first-ever clash between the two players. 

Schmiedlova's form is considerably better than her opponents. Especially on clay where she has won 10 of her 16 matches on the surface this season and that includes a victory at the Parma Ladies Open (Parma 125) back in May. The Slovakian's 21-15 record this year is considerably better than her opponent's 11-18 record, although Sorribes best surface this season is also clay (9-7). 

The winner of this contest will head into the quarterfinals of the Hungarian Grand Prix to face either Elina Avanesyan or Rebeka Masarova.