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Match details
Fixture: Leylah Fernandez vs Daria Kasatkina
Date: 11 May 2022
Tournament: Italian Open 2022
Round: Second round (Round of 32)
Venue: Rome, Italy
Category: WTA 1000
Surface: Clay
Prize money: €2,527,250
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Amazon Prime Video
Leylah Fernandez vs Daria Kasatkina preview
Last year's US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez will lock horns with World No. 23 Daria Kasatkina in the second round of the 2022 Italian Open on Wednesday.
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Fernandez arrived in Rome with just a solitary win under her belt on clay. After an opening-round exit from the Charleston Open, she defeated Andrea Petkovic in three sets at the Madrid Open. But she lost to Jil Teichmann in the second round in straight sets.
At the Italian Open, Fernandez was up against 2021 Roland Garros finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the first round. The Russian claimed the opening set, but the Canadian teenager raised her level as the match progressed to prevail 1-6, 6-2, 6-2 and make a winning debut in Rome.
Daria Kasatkina, meanwhile, commenced her clay season at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, where she lost in the second round to Ons Jabeur. She fared better at the Madrid Open, making it to the third round.
In her Italian Open opener, she defeated 2021 Roland Garros semifinalist Tamara Zidansek in straight sets. She has never progressed beyond the third round in Rome and will be eager to change that stat this time around.
Leylah Fernandez vs Daria Kasatkina head-to-head
This will be the first meeting between the two players, so the head-to-head stands at 0-0 for now.
Leylah Fernandez vs Daria Kasatkina odds
(All odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Leylah Fernandez vs Daria Kasatkina prediction
Kasatkina has more experience than Fernandez on clay, which could give her a slight edge heading into this contest.
The Canadian is nothing if not a fighter though, and her determination was on full display in her opener in Rome. The Canadian lost seven straight games at the start of her first-round match but dug deep to eke out a win.
Fernandez struck 30 winners compared to 23 unforced errors and her forehand was particularly effective on the big points.
Kasatkina, meanwhile, is known for her crafty and patient style of play, but against Zidansek in the first round, she took an aggressive approach that yielded dividends. She frequently attacked the Slovenian's backhand, her weaker wing. She also fared extremely well during return games, breaking her opponent's serve seven times during the match.
Kasatkina will need to employ a similarly proactive approach to stop Fernandez dictating proceedings from the back of the court.
An interesting stat heading into this encounter is that the teenager is undefeated against Russian players at the WTA level. Kasatkina's experience will definitely prove to be an asset, but Fernandez is a quick learner and has outsmarted more experienced opponents in the past. The Canadian might just withstand her opponent's challenge to progress to the third round.
Pick: Leylah Fernandez to win in three sets.
