We preview the Linz Open match between Jelena Ostapenko and Tamara Korspatsch taking place on the 9th of October.
WTA Tour 2019
WTA International
Linz Open
Tips-Arena, Linz (Hard Indoor)
Selected Round of 32 Matches- 9th October
Jelena Ostapenko (4/9) vs Tamara Korspatsch (7/4)
The downfall of 2017 French Open Champion Jelena Ostapenko has been tough to watch. Just to put it into contrast, Ostapenko has suffered firsts round exits in the subsequent two French Opens. I really thought that she would kick on after reaching the final of last year’s Miami Open and the semi-finals of Wimbledon. But 2019 has been a tough old slog, with a win-loss record of 16-25. The sheer volume of first round defeats for the aggressive Ostapenko has been staggering. Her highlight of the season came with a mixed doubles final at Wimbledon. But there were some signs of encouragement at the US Open. She reached the 3rd round of the US Open, which really was quite a showing when you look at her recent form. Just to highlight the frustration of Ostapenko, she only recently beat World Number two Karolina Pliskova, scuppering her push for the World Number One spot.
24 year-old Tamara Korspatch is looking to break through onto the tour proper. It is in events such as these that the German will look to shine. She just overcame American wunderkind Gauff in straight sets. The 2017 National German Champion has predominately plied her trade on the ITF Tour, and most of those events have been on clay. Having said that, she at least enters this event with some strong form. She won an ITF event in Italy prior to capturing her 8th ITF title in Spain. Korspatch can also boast a semi-final run at this year’s Ladies Open in Lausanne. She also managed at quarterfinal run at the Prague Open. So she can really boast just as much full tour success as Ostapenko this year. Having said that, Korpatsch is yet to qualify for the main draw of a Grand Slam and will need to overcome a considerable gulf against a proven Grand Slam competitor.
This will actually be the first time that these two will have met. For that reason I’m inclined to go for the value here. I just can’t think of any reason to back Ostapenko at 4/9. She has been in diabolical form and the German is the only reasonable option here.
