WTA Auckland - Pegula favored in quick conditions

2020 well underway

A new decade of tennis has started and this week, all tours are up and running. The Women's Tennis Association has three tournaments scheduled this week, one in Shenzhen, China, one Brisbane, Australia and another one in Auckland, New Zealand. The first round is already in the books and I will preview the second round match between Tamara Zidansek from Slovenia and American Jessica Pegula in Auckland. The tournament in New Zealand's biggest city is known for its fast courts and windy conditions.

Against the Odds

Both Zidansek and Pegula have been underdogs in their first round matches. Jessica Pegula beat fellow countrywoman CiCi Bellis who hopefully comes back on tour regularly after a cruel arm injury that forced her to step away from tennis for 18 months and undergo four surgeries. After handing Bellis a 21-minute bagel, Pegula fell behind a double break in set two. She quickly recovered though and more or less cruised to a 6-0 6-4 victory.

Slovenian Tamara Zidansek had a much tougher test to overcome. In a rollercoaster match, she beat Rebecca Peterson 7-6 7-6. The Swede had to break to stay in the first set twice and managed to do so. She ended leading the first set tiebreak 6-2 just to lose it 7-9. After five blown set points, she managed to get the lead again in set two, but failed to serve it out at 5-4 and lost another tiebreak. Zidansek annoyed Peterson, who was far from her best, and was able to create 19 break chances, converting 7 of them.

Hard Court Hitch

Even though the win against Peterson was a big one for Zidansek, it was benefited by an off-day from the Swede. The Slovenian recorded 6 wins and 13 losses on hard courts in 2019. After reaching the semifinal in Hua Hin back in February last year, she didn't win a single main draw match on tour. Her two remaining wins came in WTA qualifying matches. Even the ITF 100k event in Dubai she played last month ended in a first round loss against Varvara Gracheva.

Her opponent hit a rough streak on hard courts by the end of last year as well. After winning Washington, Pegula recorded five straight main draw losses. Overall, she's the much better hard court player though. She has the better serve and bigger groundstrokes. The faster courts in Auckland should suit her well and unless the American puts up an off-day herself, I don't see her losing to a clay court specialist in Zidansek.