Another exciting tournament, the Madrid Open, is now underway during the clay court swing season. A week filled with high-octane performances and drama will feature two WTA players of caliber squaring against each other in the opener. The former Grand Slam champion Sofia Kenin will be starting her campaign by locking horns with Anna Karolína Schmiedlová.

The Mutua Madrid Open is part of the WTA 1000 category and is played on the red clay courts at the Park Manzanares in Spain. With the likes of Kenin and Karolína Schmiedlová vying for a deep run in Madrid, it will be fascinating to see who prevails in this exciting opener.

Sofia Kenin vs Anna Karolína Schmiedlová: Madrid Open first-round match preview

The American tennis star enjoyed a triumphant run in the doubles category of this season’s Miami Open. But when it comes to the singles category, Sofia Kenin has been far away from her optimum levels, facing a number of initial round defeats. The former Australian Open champion even failed to start the clay swing on a high note as she tasted a first-round defeat at the hands of her compatriot Taylor Townsend at the Charleston Open.

Anna Karolína Schmiedlová, on the other hand, had a brilliant campaign at the ATX Open, where she reached the semifinal round. However, after that, the Slovak player has failed to reach the latter rounds of different tournaments, including the recently concluded Open de Rouen.

Kenin vs Karolína Schmiedlová: Head-to-Head

The opener between Sofia Kenin and Anna Karolína Schmiedlová at this season’s Madrid Open will also mark their third meeting on the WTA circuit. In both their previous meeting at the Hobart International and Connecticut Open, the American player emerged victorious and currently has a 2-0 lead in their H2H record.

Prediction: Kenin to win a close match against her Slovak opponent

Speaking about statistics, the American player recently managed to convert 56% of points on her first serve during her recent clay match in Charleston. Comparing it to her upcoming opponent, Karolína Schmiedlová had 45% winning on her first serves, which decreased to 38% on her second serves. In their previous clay court matches, Kenin managed to hit 4 aces and 7 double faults, compared to 1 and 3 for the Slovak player.

Aside from having the upper hand in these metrics, the former number 4 player’s powerful backhands and groundstrokes will also make her the favorite to win this opening-round match in Madrid. Kenin is a Grand Slam winner and has an 82/56 record on the clay. Given her vast experience, the American will likely overcome Karolína Schmiedlová, who has yet to make any notable impression on the tour.

Who do you think will prevail in this exciting opener between Sofia Kenin and Anna Karolína Schmiedlová? Let us know in the comments section.