2021 Western & Southern Open Semi-Final – Ashleigh Barty vs Angelique Kerber Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
Where is Ashleigh Barty vs Angelique Kerber taking place? Ashleigh Barty vs Angelique Kerber will take place at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Ohio, USA
When is Ashleigh Barty vs Angelique Kerber on and what time does it start? Saturday 21st August, 2021 – not before 16:00 (UK)
What surface is Ashleigh Barty vs Angelique Kerber being played on? Ashleigh Barty vs Angelique Kerber will take place on an outdoor hard court
Where can I get tickets for Ashleigh Barty vs Angelique Kerber? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Ashleigh Barty vs Angelique Kerber
What channel is Ashleigh Barty vs Angelique Kerber on? Ashleigh Barty vs Angelique Kerber will be televised on the Amazon Prime Video app on smart TVs
Where can I stream Ashleigh Barty vs Angelique Kerber? Amazon Prime subscribers can stream Ashleigh Barty vs Angelique Kerber live via their platform
THE PREDICTION
World number one Ash Barty exerted her dominance over this season’s surprise package, Barbora Krejcikova, with a straight-sets victory in the quarter-finals of the Cincinnati Open. The 25-year-old is yet to drop a set here in conditions that suit her well. Two Miami Open titles won in 2019 and earlier this year suggest she has plenty more Masters titles to win on the North American hard courts and she is riding a nine-match winning streak on tour if we discount a disappointing Olympic Games. The last player to beat the Aussie without her having to retire through injury was Aryna Sabalenka in the Madrid Masters final back in May and she looks a solid favourite to at least reach the US Open final next month in this form. She will face world number 22 Angelique Kerber next after the German got the better of an old foe in Petra Kvitova to level their head-to-head record at 8-8.
33-year-old Kerber was in control of her match with Kvitova before the Czech was forced to retire through injury and she has taken out star after star this week in Jelena Ostapenko, Elina Svitolina and Maria Sakkari before her. The last person to beat the three-time Grand Slam champion was in fact Barty in the semi-finals of Wimbledon last month. That win made it 3-2 to Barty in their head-to-head record in a straight-sets victory that saw the best of both players’ skill-sets just favour the Aussie at the key moments. Kerber’s world class defence versus Barty’s one-two punch offence is a sight to behold but at this moment in time the world number one’s game is more effective in this match-up. Take Barty to reach the final, probably in straight sets.
