The Australian Open 2023 really didn’t go according to plan for the German tennis pros. Jule Niemeier also had to pull out early in Down Under.
The German hopeful is now also having a hard time after the Australian Open, competing against a former world-class player in Linz. Why she is the underdog at Bet365 as well as in my Niemeier Kenin tip, I will now reveal!
Sofia Kenin was the new star in the tennis sky about three years ago. Barely past the age of 20, she won the Australian Open 2020 and shortly afterwards was ranked fourth in the world.
The US-American was the talk of the town, but unfortunately she could not maintain this great level. Her year 2021 was riddled with injuries and illnesses, and last year she also found it hard to get a grip on her game.
In the meantime, she has fallen so far in the rankings that she is no longer even at home in the Top 200. Will she finally be able to fight her way back up in 2023? So far, betting friends are still harbouring semi-loud doubts about it.
In Melbourne, she failed outright in the 1st round. But what sounds clear and defeated was not necessarily so. Against Victoria Azarenka, the later semi-finalist, she lost 4-6, 6-7, which was not bad!
81% of her first serve was successful over the net, a very good score. Earlier in Hobart she had reached the semi-finals, at the ASB Classics Cori Gauff struggled quite a bit against her 6-4, 6-4.
It looks as if Kenin is gradually remembering her glory days. She will certainly remember her only duel against Jule Niemeier.
At the US Open 2022, the two played a close, intense duel in the first round, which ended with a narrow 7-6, 6-4 for Niemeier. For Monday evening, however, Kenin has a slight advantage with our betting providers.
1.65 to 2.25, Niemeier probably has himself to blame for this deficit. The Dortmund player does not have much luck with the draw at the moment, let’s take a look at the last two Grand Slams.
At the US Open 2022, she met Iga Swiatek in the round of 16 and lost to the world No. 1 in three sets. Then a few weeks ago in Down Under, Niemeier had to watch again as Swiatek was put by her side, or rather on the other side of the net.
4-6, 5-7, the German sold herself well, but was still eliminated. She went to Lyon with great expectations, wanting to confirm her performance there. But it did not work out.
Already in the first round against Olga Danilovic she had a hard time, won 7-5, 2-6, 6-3. A few days later she lost to Camila Osorio 6-7, 5-7.
My Niemeier Kenin Tip
Jule Niemeier is not really getting going so far, didn’t put in a good performance in Lyon. With Sofia Kenin it is incredibly difficult to make a correct assessment.
The US-American wants to convince again after her crash, which was due to many injuries and illnesses, and her matches this year were quite promising. I see Kenin a tad further ahead, which is why I can only guess:
Kenin wins against Niemeier!
