Kateryna Volodko vs Yulia Putintseva Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Budapest

Prediction published on 18/07/2023, 00:59  by Nella Wagah | Modified on 18/07/2023 at 00:59 in Tennis Predictions

Fourth seed Yulia Putintseva begins her Budapest Grand Prix campaign on Tuesday with a first-round showdown with qualifier Kateryna Volodko. Ahead of this competition, Volodko had not won a match on clay in 2023. But her two victories in the qualifying rounds have her record for the season on the surface tied at 2-2. In her last match, the Ukrainian defeated Berfu Cengiz in three sets. This took her tally for the season to 11 victories in the 18 matches she has played thus far. Her highlight of the season remains to be winning the title in Nonthaburi in the ITF circuit in January. Advancing to the main draw has moved the former world number 29 up three places to 292nd in the live ranking. Volodko has defeated Putintseva twice in the three encounters between them. This however is the first time they are going up against each other in seven years.

Yulia Putintseva won the only encounter between the two players on clay which was in the qualifying rounds in Bastad back in 2014. She will hope for a similar outcome as she targets adding to her 17 victories in 2023. Putintseva has struggled for form so far this season and currently has won the same number of matches as she has lost. She has returned to a tournament she won two seasons ago and will hope this allows her to fully take charge of her season. The Kazakh started the week ranked 62nd in the live ranking. She arrives here after her semifinal finish in Bastad. Ten of Putintseva’s total victories this season have come on clay. The winner here will play unseeded Claire Liu in the second round.