Former World No. 1 Angelique Kerber will be back in action on the women’s tour this week. Whether she will have an extended run at the WTA Indian Wells 2024 event remains to be seen. In the first round, the German will face Petra Martic at the 2024 BNP Paribas Open. Kerber is an underdog in the match, priced at +175 on the moneyline (bet365). Meanwhile, Martic is at a short -225 for straight-up odds. My Kerber vs Martic prediction is that the former player will win at least one set in the match.
Schedule of Play: Right-click/Open in the New Tab to check match times: subject to change
Angelique Kerber vs Petra Martic Head-to-Head Series
These players have faced one another three times before. Their head-to-head series dates back to 2008. The Kerber vs Martic h2h is 1-2 in favor of the latter player. One of Martic’s wins was via a walkover. Kerber won the biggest match between the two players, which came at the 2012 French Open. But with no matches in their head-to-heads since 2019, this is a series that could be set aside in previewing their upcoming match.
The Draw: Right-click/Open in the New Tab for the draw for the 2024 BNP Paribas Open
Angelique Kerber’s Recent Tennis Results
We have not seen much out of Kerber in elimination draws. She was in the Australian Open, where she lost in the first round. Over a month ago in Linz, Kerber likewise fell in the opening round.
Kerber was also in the United Cup, which is a mixed-gender team event. Kerber had some really tough opponents at the United Cup. She managed just one win, beating Ana Tomljanovic in a three-set affair but lost to all of the other tougher players. Kerber is just 1-6 in her matches this season and 4-14 on sets played.
Petra Martic’s Recent Tennis Results
Recently, Martic was in Dubai and Doha where she went 2-2 in the draws combined. She does not have any significant match-wins yet this season.
Kerber vs Martic Prediction: Kerber to win a set
On rankings, this is the World No. 607 vs the World No. 58. Kerber has the former ranking as she returns from her maternity leave. Bettors partial to Kerber have to be taking a bit of a blind leap. When we last saw her, she went 1-6, 3-6 against a player of similar rankings to Martic, Lucia Bronzetta.
A big problem with this match is simply trying to place where Kerber is at right now. Presumptively, Kerber is better than where she was previously. Accordingly, bettors will have to assume that she is better than where she was at this time last month when she lost to Bronzetti.
As a former World No. 1, her mind for the game is top-notch, even if she is struggling to find her game right now. The bet that I am most comfortable with is Kerber to win a set at -150 (bet365). That’s a bet on Kerber improving as much as it recognizes that Martic simply has not looked dangerous at all this season.
Martic vs Kerber prediction: Draw at the 2024 BNP Paribas Open
It would be nice to see Kerber in the second round. She would face Jelena Ostapenko, the No. 10 seed. If Kerber can beat Martic and play some close sets against Ostapenko then it would be reassuring that the German is improving on her comeback trail.
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