Angelique Kerber of Germany, the world 25, will play Bernarda Pera of the USA, ranked 63, in the opening round of the 2021 Australian Open on Monday, February 8, with the match likely to begin at around 1 pm local time. Get the live streaming options of this Angelique Kerber v Bernarda Pera match along with its preview, head to head, and tips here.
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Angelique Kerber v Bernarda Pera Head to Head
The pair have never met before. This will be the first match between the 33-year-old German, and the American, who is seven years younger.
Former Champion Kerber Gets Some Form Going
Former world number one Kerber has fond memories of Melbourne from 2016 when she won the title her, defeating Serena Williams in the final. Two years later she was a semi-finalist and has also reached the fourth round on five occasions, including last year.
However, she has also acquired the reputation in recent years as an erratic performer, hard to beat one day and all too fallible the next.
That was illustrated last year after her defeat to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in Melbourne. Injury caused her to miss the next few months of the season, but she returned in time to play in the US Open, where she got to the third round before losing to Jennifer Brady.
However, she then lost in the first round in Rome and Paris before deciding to end her season early.
Kerber entered the Grampians Trophy last week, beating Katerina Sinioka, but then was beaten by Ons Jabeur in her next match in straight sets.
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Can Pera Regain Some Form?
Croatian-born American Pera made her Grand Slam debut here in Melbourne three years ago, and went on to reach the third round, in the process enjoying her only win to date over a top-ten ranked player, when she beat Johanna Konta of Great Britain.
She has not reached that stage of a Grand Slam tournament since.
She has enjoyed success on the junior circuit, winning 9 ITF singles and 8 doubles’ titles, but she has yet been able to translate that form onto the senior tour.
Pera did reach her highest ever singles ranking last year prior to lockdown, but she struggled on the resumption of the sport, with the French Open the only event where she got beyond the first round.
She was defeated in the first round in Abu Dhabi and, last week in the Gippsland Trophy, Konta got belated revenge with a straight sets victory.
Kerber v Pera Prediction and Tip
Although Kerber has earned a reputation in recent years for her erratic performances, Pera should hold no terrors for her, and the German should win comfortably.
Tip: Kerber to win in straight sets: 5/6 (bet365)
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The 2021 Australian Open will be played from February 8 to 21. You can watch & bet on these matches here. Get your latest premium tennis predictions here.
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