Alize Cornet - Lucie Havlickova predictions and free betting tips [01/08/2023]

Let's dive further into the Livesport Prague Open, part of the WTA 250 series. This time, we're contemplating a match involving Czech youngster Lucia Havlickova who is set to play against renowned Frenchie, Alize Cornet. These ladies have never clashed before, which adds a level of intrigue to our speculation. It's a good challenge for us, as well as for the tennis players, to analyse this forthcoming confrontation and compare these representatives of the WTA tour.

Although the Havlickova - Cornet match may not be the highlight, we can always spice it up with a thoughtful wager to heighten our interest and make the match more significant.

Alize Cornet

The French tennis player has been heavily focused on her ranking, but there's a risk with the level of game Alize is currently exhibiting; she might slip out the top 100 of the World WTA ranking. It’s important to not only participate in big tournaments in hope to advance a few rounds, but also to demonstrate consistent good results on the road.

This year formed rather murky for Cornet. Small, local improvements are there, but for a skilled player like Alize they hold minimal meaning. Mainly considering two quarter-finals on clay tournaments in Paris and Lausanne as well as the semis in Nottingham. Beyond that, there's little to highlight, Cornet did not endeavour to work through super-tournament matches. She primarily aimed to get through obligatory matches to earn the required points for the ranking.

I hope that in Prague, Alize will have the urge to strive for more stable results. We see her slowly sinking towards the second hundred in the WTA ranking and without improvement, she may certainly slide there. Her first game in Prague features a youthful challenger, Havlickova, who as a "no name" will be playing with utmost calm and confidence. For the French lady, this match will serve as a durability test, where she needs to assert her prowess and beat the young Czech.

Lucia Havlickova

Havlickova is probing her skills in the Futures, trying to be effective in low-tier tournaments. WTA tournaments are currently irrelevant for her, as they require a higher level of tennis proficiency. It's vital for the young Czech to perform robustly in ITF competitions, then find a transition option for major tournaments. I believe she needs at least a year, or more, to play games in Futures without issues.

Within this season, Lucia managed to reach the finals of two ITF tournaments on two terrains: indoor hard and clay. The first tournament in Trnava was won by her. However, the sandy courts of Grado did not entirely show Lucia's expertise, even though her final match against Yulia Hatouka could have turned out way better.

The WTA 250 in Prague serves as a serious tournament for Lucia. It doesn’t require her to be incredibly productive, yet it will surely stand as a testament to Havlickova’s capabilities. Her first match against Cornet will be challenging and she's aware that she must handle it properly. Havlickova's serve is pretty decent for her age and skill, but she grapples with coordinated actions during rallies, often being unsure what to do in certain situations. I anticipate Alize to exhibit much more decisive play, whereas Havlickova may appear unstable.

Prediction for the match: Alize Cornet - Lucia Havlickova

Cornet's on-court thoughts will involve demonstrating tactful gameplay and defeating the Czech contender with class. Havlickova will endeavour to prevent Cornet from quickly claiming the upper hand. The first set is going to be crucial for both ladies. Alize needs a win to comfortably navigate the following inning, and Lucia understands it would be tough to claim a comeback in this match. I'd opt for an ITO of more than 8.5 games in the second set. Much hangs on the opening inning, where the ladies will likely deliver an action-packed performance.