Stuttgart 2021: Karolina Pliskova vs Tamara Korpatsch preview, head-to-head & prediction | Porsche Tennis Grand Prix

Match details

Fixture: (6) Karolina Pliskova vs Tamara Korpatsch

Date: 21 April 2021

Tournament: Porsche Tennis Grand Prix 2021

Round: First round (Round of 32)

Venue: Stuttgart, Germany

Category: WTA 500

Surface: Clay

Prize money: $565,530

Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Europsort

Karolina Pliskova vs Tamara Korpatsch preview

Sixth seed and World No. 9 Karolina Pliskova will start her Stuttgart campaign against German qualifier Tamara Korpatsch on Wednesday.

Pliskova, a former World No. 1, has had an underwhelming 2021 season so far. The Czech hasn't been able to win more than two matches in any of the six tournaments she has played this year.

Pliskova would be hoping for a turnaround with a shift to clay. The challenging surface has been kind to the Czech in the past few years, which is evident from her recent title runs in Stuttgart and Rome.

Pliskova won Stuttgart in 2018 and Rome in 2019, while also reaching the final in the Italian capital last year.

The 29-year-old will look to draw inspiration from her past success as she steps on to the clay this year in the German city.

Tamara Korpatsch

World No. 137 Tamara Korpatsch, meanwhile, is a relatively unheralded player whose highest ranking so far has been 107th. A former German national champion, the Hamburg-born player has eight ITF titles to her credit but has never made it past the first round at any Slam.

This year Korpatsch has played three ITF events, losing in the first round of each. She has had to come through the qualifiers at Stuttgart, where she won each of her two matches in three sets.

Pliskova would certainly be a monumental challenge for Korpatsch; the German can't afford any slip-ups if she wants to make this a competitive match.

Karolina Pliskova vs Tamara Korpatsch head-to-head

Karolina Pliskova and Tamara Korpatsch have never crossed paths on the WTA tour, so their head-to-head stands at a 0-0 deadlock.

Karolina Pliskova vs Tamara Korpatsch prediction

Karolina Pliskova with the Stuttgart trophy in 2018

In terms of ranking, experience and skills, Karolina Pliskova thoroughly overmatches Tamara Korpatsch.

Pliskova has the big serve-and-forehand combination, with which she can go on the attack from the baseline. In recent times the Czech has also made improvements to her footwork, which has earned her a bunch of claycourt titles.

Korpatsch has more of a counter-punching style, and relies on her opponents' errors to win points. But if she doesn't hit with consistent depth, Pliskova is unlikely to miss too many putaways.

Korpatsch has also played a couple of draining three-setters in the Stuttgart qualifiers, and might not have the energy to stay with the Czech.

Prediction: Karolina Pliskova to win in straight sets.