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Ros Satar
Heather Watson in the 2023 Surbiton Trophy, London, UK
Heather Watson in the 2023 Surbiton Trophy, London, UK | (Photo by Christopher Lee/Getty Images for LTA)

Tennis | WTA Prague 2023 | Watson continues her return to form as she faces Niemeier in her opener

Britwatch Team
Tennis

By Ros Satar

  • Heather Watson v Jule Niemeier
  • Watson leads H2H 2-1
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC – Heather Watson continues her upward trend on the European hard courts and opens her campaign against Jule Niemeier.

 

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Heather Watson v Jule Niemeier | H2H: Watson leads 2-1

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Heather Watson v Jule Niemeier H2H: Watson leads 2-1
WTA Prague Czech Republic
Hard Prize Money: $2,804
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Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (Hard 2023)

H2H: Heather Watson (WR 134) Jule Niemeier (WR 101)
Tournament Previous Best R1 (2015, 2018) Debut
1st Serve Return Points Won % 38.9 31.5
Return Points Won % 45.9 37.9
Break Point Conversion % 43.3 37.9
Break Points Saved % 55.9 56.5
Match W/L % 57.0 (11-6) 0.0 (0-6)

 

Preview & Prediction

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On we go again as Watson starts her climb back up the rankings, with a few weeks to go before the US Open. Having been on the verge of dropping out of the top 200, she is advancing back up the ranks. She will open her campaign against Germany’s Jule Niemeier, and just edges ahead in their head-to-head thanks to her Nottingham run.

The hard courts have not been Niemeier’s friend this season as she has yet to pick up a win this season. That should give Watson a degree of confidence coming off a run to the Prague quarter-final. Watson first encountered the German in a tough match in Monterrey last year, and got the better of her, only to lose in Wimbledon later that year as she enjoyed one of her best runs at the tournament.

Watson will be up against the German’s big serve, and matching power off her forehand and she has finesse. The Brit will need to call on her experience and hopefully new found confidence to push ahead in this match.

Prediction: Watson in straight sets.

 

 

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