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Match Details
Fixture: (PR) Angelique Kerber vs Danielle Collins
Tournament: Australian Open 2024
Round: First round (Round of 128)
Venue: Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia
Category: Grand Slam
Surface: Hard (Outdoor)
Prize Money: A$86,500,000
Live telecast: USA - ESPN & Tennis Channel | UK - Eurosport | India - Sony Sports & Sony Liv | Canada - TSN & RDS
Angelique Kerber vs Danielle Collins preview
Former champion Angelique Kerber will battle it out against Danielle Collins in the first round of the 2024 Australian Open.
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Kerber's comeback following maternity leave commenced at the United Cup. While Germany won the title, she was able to win only one of her five singles matches. She lost to Jasmine Paolini and Caroline Garcia in the group stage, while Maria Sakkari defeated her in the quarterfinals.
Kerber's only win of the tournament came against Ajla Tomljanovic in the semifinals. She even saved a match point in her three-set win. The three-time Major champion then lost to Iga Swiatek in the final.
Kerber was supposed to participate in the Adelaide International after her United Cup campaign but withdrew from the tournament. She'll now contest her first Major since the 2022 Wimbledon Championships.
Collins, meanwhile, started her season in Brisbane with a three-set win over Hayley Baptiste in the first round. She faced Zhu Lin in the second round, but let go of a one-set lead to lose the match.
The American then made her way to Hobart the following week. She was drawn against top seed Elise Mertens in her opener. Collins was no match for her opponent and lost to her 6-2, 6-3.
Angelique Kerber vs Danielle Collins
The two have split their previous couple of meetings evenly to tie the head-to-head at 1-1. Collins won their last encounter at the 2019 Australian Open in straight sets.
Angelique Kerber vs Danielle Collins odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Angelique Kerber vs Danielle Collins prediction
Both have just a single win to their name this year heading into this encounter. The two have enjoyed considerable success here in the past. Kerber won the first of her three Major titles in Melbourne, while Collins was the runner-up Down Under in 2022.
Their previous matches have been quite one-sided, with the winner dropping just a couple of games on both occasions. The two also have contrasting styles of play, with Kerber being reliant on her defensive brand of tennis, while Collins prefers to dictate the play.
With neither coming into this contest in great form, this match could swing either way. Collins is more match fit, while Kerber is returning to the tour after being away for more than a year. The American just might be able to use that to her advantage and secure the win.
Pick: Danielle Collins to win in three sets.
