'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Fixture: (2) Leylah Fernandez vs Anna Karolina Schmiedlova
Tournament: Monterrey Open
Date: 28 February 2022
Round: First round (Round of 32)
Venue: Monterrey, Mexico
Category: WTA 250
Surface: Outdoor Hardcourt
Prize money: $235,238
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Amazon Prime Video
Leylah Fernandez vs Anna Karolina Schmiedlova preview
Leylah Fernandez will open her Monterrey Open title defense with a first-round encounter against Anna Karolina Schmiedlova on Monday.
Fernandez, the second seed, lifted her first WTA trophy at this venue last year. The youngster blazed through the field, registering wins over the likes of Sara Sorribes Tormo and Viktorija Golubic, and will be keen to pick up right where she left off.
Schmiedlova, meanwhile, will be hoping to carry the momentum from her quarter-final run in Guadalajara last week. The Slovak notched up a couple of solid wins over Nuria Parrizas Diaz and Anastasia Potapova before going down to Wang Qiang.
Schmiedlova does possess a strong baseline game that is well-suited to hardcourt conditions and could cause a few problems for the defending champion.
Leylah Fernandez vs Anna Karolina Schmiedlova head-to-head
This will be the first career meeting between Fernandez and Schmiedlova, so their current head-to-head stands at 0-0.
Leylah Fernandez vs Anna Karolina Schmiedlova prediction
Fernandez will need to find her groove quickly. Fernandez hasn't made the best of starts to the year and comes into the tournament with a 1-2 win-loss record. Her only win came against Ekaterina Alexandrova, but she has suffered drubbings in her other two matches.
Against a big striker in the form of Anna Karolina Schiemdlova, the youngster will have very little time to find her rhythm. The Slovak likes to take the ball early and possesses solid groundstrokes. She will also have a certain level of confidence after having picked up a few wins in Guadalajara.
Fernandez will need to ensure a good start. If she can rely on her serve to win a few easy points, that could take some pressure off and allow her to play with more freedom. She will, however, need to be at her sharpest to avoid an early upset.
Prediction: Fernandez to win in three sets.
