Australian Open 2022, 1st Round, Tuesday, 18.01.2022
What are the chances of a German triumph at the Australian Open? What Alexander Zverev is in the men’s draw, Angelique Kerber is likely to be in the women’s draw: The great hope for a successful start to the tennis year 2022!
The player from Kiel fought her way back impressively in 2021 and now wants to shine Down Under. However, her opponent for the opener is not an easy one. In my Kerber Kanepi tip, I check whether the German will actually come out on top.
Many didn’t expect Angelique Kerber to fight her way back to the top of the world last year, but of course she wants to continue her impressive comeback in 2022.
The number 20 in the rankings starts the Australian Open on Tuesday. A special day, because she will celebrate her 34th birthday here. A year ago, things went badly wrong and she was eliminated in Round 1 against Bernarda Pera.
The 2016 title holder is not yet one of the big favourites, but she is aiming for at least a round of 16. Last summer, her fans will remember, she was serving like she was at her best.
Maria Sakkari, Elina Svitolina, Petra Kvitova and many others, Kerber cleaned them all. Only Ashleigh Barty denied her even greater success. Her duel in the first round in Melbourne will not lack experience.
Kaia Kanepi from Estonia is two years older than Kerber, and she has played Kerber four times in the past. However, the 2:2 is unlikely to be very meaningful, as the matches all took place between 2009 and 2014.
The Estonian did reach the 3rd round in 2021, but was also ranked much higher. Currently she is only ranked 115th in the world. Round 3 is her best result, four times she was eliminated right after the first match.
In contrast to Kerber, Kanepi was not able to convince in 2021, sometimes even competing in ITF tournaments. On the other hand, she completed the preparatory competition in Melbourne, although she did not get far here.
The Croatian Ana Konjuh was the final stop, she is ranked 58th.
My Kerber Kanepi Tip
It was almost ten years ago that Kaia Kanepi was ranked No. 15 in the world. In the meantime, 100 places have been added and the Estonian doesn’t seem to be able to make it back to her old form. This also became clear at her preparation tournament in Melbourne.
Here she almost only lost to top players, the reward was a 20th place in the world rankings in the end.
In my eyes, she is strong enough not to repeat her first-round exit last year. Even if Kanepi will present herself as an unpleasant opponent, I bet:
Kerber will enter the 2nd round!
