Roland Garros: Donna Vekic vs Irina Bara preview, head-to-head & prediction | French Open 2020

Match details:

Fixture: Donna Vekic vs Irina Bara

Date: 29 September 2020

Tournament: Roland Garros 2020

Round: First Round (Round of 128)

Venue: Paris, France

Category: Grand Slam

Surface: Red clay

Prize money: Approx, €38,000,000

Match timing: Approx. 1 pm CEST, 4.30 pm IST

Live telecast: - NBC Sports/Tennis Channel | India - Star Sports/Disney+ Hotstar VIP

Also check out: The Complete French Open 2020 Results

Donna Vekic vs Irina Bara preview

Irina Bara

26th seed Donna Vekic will be looking to start her week at Roland Garros on a strong note when she takes on qualifier Irina Bara in the first round on Tuesday.

The Croat has not been in top form since the resumption of the tour, having lost early to eventual champion Victoria Azarenka at the Western & Southern Open. Vekic followed that up with a third-round appearance at the US Open where she surprisingly lost to a returning Tsvetana Pironkova, bagging only five games in the process.

The World No. 30 then exited the Italian Open in the first round, at the hands of Amanda Anisimova.

Vekic is short of match practice coming into the French Open, but will likely find her opening match fairly straightforward. Romania's Irina Bara has barely found her feet on the main tour, and will be making her Grand Slam debut in Paris at the age of 25.

Donna Vekic vs Irina Bara head-to-head

The first-round match in Paris will be the first-ever career meeting between Donna Vekic and Irina Bara, so the head-to-head currently stands at 0-0.

Donna Vekic vs Irina Bara prediction

Donna Vekic has a reliable service game.

Donna Vekic's erratic game has often been a source of frustration for her fans over the last couple of years. However, the Croat's ability to rally from the back of the court has always been impressive.

Vekic has a solid baseline game and a reliable serve too. And while she has enjoyed more success on faster courts over her career, she did reach the second week in Paris last year.

The big-hitting Croat's opponent has a very different style of play in comparison. Bara has grown up on the claycourts of Bucharest, and likes playing loopy groundstrokes to prolong rallies.

All things considered, Vekic is expected to win without much trouble over the qualifier who has no experience at the Majors.

Prediction: Donna Vekic to win in straight sets.

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