Kaia Kanepi (Est) vs. Kiki Bertens (Ned) – Result prediction (17.10.2019)

Preview and players comparison.

Bertens has the clear upper hand against the 34-year-old fading veteran, currently ranked outside the top 100. The pair’s only previous meeting came way back in 2012 at Seoul, with Kanepi prevailing in the quarterfinals, 6-4, 6-4. At that time, the Dutchwoman was making just her second WTA last-eight appearance.

Kiki Bertens is trying to fend off Belinda Bencic in the quest to qualify for the WTA Finals for the second year in a row. She got a big boost with her career’s biggest hard-court semifinal appearance in Beijing (d. Svitolina). Last week’s Linz quarterfinal exit to 15-year-old Gauff made no changes to her standings. Bertens is set to make her 26th tournament outing of the season, more than any other player in the current top 10 rankings. She has gone 21-4 in opening-round matches of the previous ones. The Dutch player made her debut at Kremlin Cup last year but lost to Aliaksandra Sasnovich in three sets in the first hurdle.

Kaia Kanepi got past the first round of Moscow for the first time since the final showing in 2011. She won 90% on her first serve and dropped just a service game to beat Timea Babos, 6-1, 6-3, in 73 minutes. The former world no. 15 started in the qualifyings, winning three matches in 121 minutes (one came via ret). Kanepi, who finished runner-up to Cibulkova eight years ago at Moscow, has reached just three WTA quarterfinals since the start of 2015 and one in the last two years (2018 Brisbane). Her only top 10 win since 2014 came at Flushing Meadows last year when she upset then world no. 1 Simona Halep in straight sets.

Match Info.

Competition: WTA – SINGLES: Moscow (Russia), hard (indoor) – 1/8-finals.
Start: 17.10.2019, 8:00 UTC.