The Stuttgart Open has arrived and has begun the European clay swing for the WTA. Jelena Ostapenko will play against Linda Noskova. The two players aim to overcome each other in an attempt to change the look of their ongoing season. It will also be the first clay tournament for both players this year, as they need time to adapt to the dirt. 

Ostapenko won the Adelaide International and the Linz Open earlier in the year and has a steady stream of wins. Noskova is on a similar track as she had a good performance in Brisbane and Australia but could not keep her form.

Linda Noskova vs Jelena Ostapenko: Preview

Noskova has not managed to attain more than 2 wins in any tournament since her appearance in the Australian Open. Her recent stint in the Miami Open, where she lost to Iga Swiatek in three sets in the round of 32. Despite 7 aces, she only won 61% of points on first serve and won 3 of 8 break points. She did give a good fight to Swiatek but had to go home after being defeated 7-5, 6-4, 6-4. 

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Ostapenko has recently encountered a minor slump as she exited Indian Wells in the first round and the Miami Open in the second round. Anna Kalinskaya ousted her in straight sets, 3-6, 1-6. Ostapenko hit 2 aces and could not land more than 52% of first serves, with a 58% win on first serve, which can be a problem on clay. She could not win any break points and gave away five games in a row to Kalinskaya.

Noskova vs Ostapenko: Head-to-Head

Linda Noskova and Jelena Ostapenko have played against each other once on the WTA Tour. They fought in round 32 of the Birmingham Classic, where Ostapenko won. The Latvian player won the bout 6-2, 5-7, 6-1, and went on to win the championship. They were set to play each other in the 2023 Beijing Open, but Noskova could not participate in the round. She will get a chance at revenge in the Stuttgart Open.

Prediction: Ostapenko to move ahead in Germany

Considering their current performances, not much sets the two players apart. They have played most of their matches on fast surfaces and will now come on to a much slower surface, where Ostapenko has much better experience. Clay is her preferred surface, which means that she has a better chance of sending Noskova packing.

Both have a weak serve and return, which further reduces the difference between them. Ostapenko does have a better momentum than Noskova as she has accumulated more wins, which tips the scale slightly more in her favor. Regardless, the bout in Stuttgart will be a close contest, and Noskova does have the skill to surprise us.