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Match Details
Fixture: (3) Ajla Tomljanovic vs (Q) Elizabeth Mandlik
Date: October 28, 2024
Tournament: Merida Open Akron 2024
Round: First Round (Round of 32)
Venue: Yucatan Country Club, Merida, Mexico
Category: WTA 250
Surface: Hard
Prize Money: $267,082
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports
Ajla Tomljanovic vs Elizabeth Mandlik preview
Third seed Ajla Tomljanovic will face qualifier Elizabeth Mandlik in the first round of the Merida Open 2024 on Monday (October 28).
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Tomljanovic went on an injury hiatus at the end of January, and returned to action at the French Open, where she crashed out in the first round. She then reached the final of her very next tournament in Birmingham, and lost to Yulia Putintseva in straight sets. The runner-up finish remains her best result on the WTA tour this season.
Tomljanovic's biggest success came at the Challenger level this year. She won the Hong Kong Open at the start of October, her second title at that level. She moved back into the top 100 as a result of her title-winning run. Following her victory, she lost in the first round of the Wuhan Open and the Ningbo Open.
Mandlik, meanwhile, kicked off her campaign in Merida by competing in the qualifying rounds. She easily beat home favorite Victoria Rodriguez 6-1, 6-2 in the first qualifier. She took on Eva Vedder for a spot in the main draw, and handed her a 6-1, 6-1 beatdown to book her place in the Merida Open draw.
Ajla Tomljanovic vs Elizabeth Mandlik head-to-head
This will be the first career meeting between the two, so the head-to-head currently stands at 0-0 for now.
Ajla Tomljanovic vs Elizabeth Mandlik odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Ajla Tomljanovic vs Elizabeth Mandlik prediction
Tomljanovic has nine wins at the WTA level this year, and has lost her last four main-draw matches. While Mandlik crushed her opponents in the qualifying rounds here, she is yet to register a win at the main-draw level this season.
Tomljanovic has a 5-2 record against players ranked outside the top 100, and has won her last five matches against them. Mandlik, currently ranked 173rd, has lost both of matches against top-100 players this season, though she has a 8-15 career record against them.
Mandlik has failed to back up her good results from last year this season, and has fallen down in the rankings. Tomljanovic has struggled to get going consistently since her return from an injury break. However, even with her streaky form, the Australian should be able to deal with her younger rival, who has performed far worse than her this year.
Pick: Ajla Tomljanovic to win in straight sets.
