Anna Blinkova Favored to Win Against Alina Korneeva in WTA Merida Open

Anna Blinkova, currently ranked 71st in the live rankings, is poised to face Alina Korneeva in the second round of the WTA Merida Open. This match marks their first career meeting, with the winner set to play either Lucrezia Stefanini or Sara Sorribes Tormo in the next round.

Blinkova has been on a strong run of form, having won 12 of her last 14 matches. She recently defeated Lesia Tsurenko in the first round, although the match was cut short due to Tsurenko’s injury. Blinkova came from a set down to lead 4-0 in the third set before Tsurenko’s retirement. This victory improved Blinkova’s record to 24-28 for the year and boosted her ranking by four places.

Alina Korneeva, ranked 254th in the world, had a promising start in Merida by defeating Alycia Parks in straight sets. This win was only her second in the main draw of a tour event this year and halted a two-match losing streak. However, Korneeva has never progressed past the second round in any tour tournament, having lost in this round in her previous attempts.

The betting odds favor Blinkova, with a 53.67% probability of winning against Korneeva’s 46.33%. Blinkova’s extensive experience, including multiple tour finals and over 100 hard-court wins, makes her the predicted winner. Despite Korneeva’s recent form, her lack of experience at the tour level is expected to be a significant factor in this match.

Blinkova’s recent performance, including winning nine of her last 10 fixtures, further solidifies her position as the favorite to win this match. The outcome will be crucial for both players as they aim to advance in the WTA Merida Open.