Elise Mertens vs Lucia Bronzetti Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Linz

Prediction published on 30/01/2024, 13:46  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 01/02/2024 at 00:00 in Tennis Predictions

Elise Mertens has no seeded players between her and a place in the last eight of the Upper Austria Linz Open. The fourth seed takes on unseeded Italian Lucia Bronzetti in round two of this indoor hard court tournament. The winner will take on either Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova or Katie Boulter (both unseeded) in the next round. Mertens is currently the highest ranked doubles player in the world (recently winning the Australian Open title) but only 22nd in the singles. The Belgian received a bye into the second round of this tournament. This year has seen the 28-year-old reach the final of the Hobart International losing in three sets to Emma Navarro. At the Australian Open, Mertens lost in round two to Marta Kostyuk despite winning the first set.

Lucia Bronzetti has a career high of 47th but started this tournament in 58th position. After beating Angelique Kerber for the loss of just four games in round one, Bronzetti is up to 52nd and can rise another place if winning this match. The Italian won her first match of this year in the Brisbane International. Her run didn't last long though as the next round saw her lose to Aryna Sabalenka winning just three games, all in the first set. First round exits followed in the Hobart International and then the Australian Open. This looks another tough assignment for Bronzetti and we tip Mertens to get the win and progress to the quarter finals in Linz.