The round of 16 gets underway at the Adelaide International with Damien Kayat previewing the respective matchups between Angelique Kerber and Dayana Yastremska as well as Sofia Kenin and Danielle Rose Collins.
WTA Tour 2020 | Adelaide International | WTA Premier
Memorial Drive Tennis Centre (Hard Outdoor)
Selected Round of 16 Matches – 15 January 2019
Angelique Kerber (19/20)
vs Dayana Yastremska (15/20)
This is an intriguing second round clash in the inaugural edition of the Adelaide International. In what virtually amounts to a clash between the present and future, three-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber will be looking to build some momentum against the emerging talent of Dayana Yastremska. I couldn’t help but feel that Kerber was something of a waning power towards the back end of last season. The former world number one is an arch competitor and always has a solid result in her locker: she lost in both the Eastbourne and Indian Wells final. But her form really plummeted in the second half of the season, seeing her notch opening round defeats in Canada, Cincinnati and Flushing Meadows. She also lost to Aussie veteran Sam Stosur in the opening round in Brisbane last week. This could represent a significant challenge to a woman with a proud history in Australasia.
Dayana Yastremska is certainly at the vanguard of promising new tennis talent on the woman’s circuit. The 19-year-old burst onto the scene with a victory at the Honk Kong Open in 2018. She followed that up with an even more impressive 2019 campaign, which ultimately saw her qualify for the season-ending WTA Elite Trophy. She won two titles on the WTA Tour last year, claiming victory at the Hua Hin Championships and Strasbourg. She also showed some signs of maturation on the Grand Slam stage, reaching the third rounds of both the Aussie Open and US Open. Her Grand Slam highlight of the year was a fourth round run at Wimbledon. Much like Kerber, she lost in the opening round of the Brisbane event. But she thrashed Timea Babos in the opening round here and will feel confident of picking up the scalp of Kerber.
This will actually be the first time these two have met. I really fancy the Ukrainian to surge through this encounter. I admire her aggressive style and think it can overpower the crafty experience of the German.
Sofia Kenin (4/5)
vs Danielle Rose Collins (1/1)
This clash is an all-American tussle between two women who took vastly different routes to this stage. The 26-year-old Danielle Rose Collins will enter this match as the proverbial underdog. Collins has taken the scenic route in her career trajectory, spending considerable time in the highly vaunted American collegiate system. She was a two-time NCAA Collegiate Champion before making the much-awaited switch to professional tennis. It has taken her some time to adjust to the vagaries of the WTA schedule. But there have been a few incredible performances amongst the mediocrity. She reached the semi-finals of the 2018 Miami Open before her major breakthrough last year. She defied the odds in a herculean display at the Aussie Open, reaching the semi-finals. The rest of her year paled in comparison. However, she thrashed Elina Svitolina last week in Brisbane and was similarly brutal in despising of Sasnovich in the opening round here.
With the likes of Ashleigh Barty and Bianca Andreescu rising to such prominence in 2019, it’s easy to overlook the great strides made by 21-year-old American Sofia Kenin. Kenin was something of a child prodigy, attracting legendary coaches at the age of five. She had a promising junior career, reaching the final of the 2-15 Girl’s US Open. She enjoyed a terrific 2019, one which saw her capture three WTA titles. She won in Hobart, Mallorca and Guangzhou. She was also the runner-up in Mallorca. But perhaps the result that brought her to the broader attention of the world came at the French Open. She beat the iconic Serena Williams in a display that seemed to herald the arrival of a major new talent in the women’s game. Kenin won the WTA Most Improved Player of 2019 Award and will be looking to push on and become a regular fixture in the world’s top 10.
This will be the third meeting between these two, though both other meetings were not on the WTA Tour proper. Kenin leads the head-to-head 2-0. Despite that, I think there may be value in a Collins upset here. Early season is always a great place for an upset. But I just think that Collins has the capacity to beat anyone on her day. Those straight-sets victories over Svitolina and Sasnovich make her an attractive underdog.
Written by Damien Kayat for Hollywoodbets.
