Simona Halep vs Danka Kovinic – Third Round – Preview & Prediction | 2022 Australian Open
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THE FACTS
When is Simona Halep vs Danka Kovinic on and what time does it start? Simona Halep vs Danka Kovinic will take place on Saturday 22nd January, 2022 – not before 01:30 (UK)
Where is Simona Halep vs Danka Kovinic taking place? Simona Halep vs Danka Kovinic will take place at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia
What surface is Simona Halep vs Danka Kovinic being played on? Simona Halep vs Danka Kovinic will take place on an outdoor hard court
Where can I get tickets for Simona Halep vs Danka Kovinic? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Simona Halep vs Danka Kovinic
What channel is Simona Halep vs Danka Kovinic on in the UK? Simona Halep vs Danka Kovinic will be televised live on Eurosport
Where can I stream Simona Halep vs Danka Kovinic in the UK? Eurosport subscribers can stream Simona Halep vs Danka Kovinic live on their website, while Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match live on Sky Go
THE LOWDOWN
SIMONA HALEP
World number 15 Simona Halep conceded just two games to Beatriz Haddad-Maia on Thursday night to make a real statement of intent at the Australian Open. The former world number one is a two-time Grand Slam champion from Roland-Garros in 2018 and Wimbledon in 2019 on her way back to the top of the sport after an injury-plagued 2021 season. Halep was a runner-up to Caroline Wozniacki here in 2018 but she has made the semi and quarter-finals in her last two appearances.
DANKA KOVINIC
World number 98 Danka Kovinic eventually won the biggest match of her career against an injured Emma Raducanu on Thursday in three sets, reaching the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time at the seventh time of asking. The 27-year-old has thrice finished runner-up in WTA tour finals, including last season’s Charleston Open on her favoured clay, but a third round at the Australian Open is undoubtedly a bigger stage as the first player from Montenegro to do so at a Grand Slam.
THE PREDICTION
Perhaps Simona Halep and Emma Raducanu are doomed never to face each other on tour but all the better for the Romanian who faces a very winnable fixture here. Danka Kovinic almost did not put away her injured foe on Thursday but doing so was a huge deal for the Montenegrin, who will enjoy this biggest match of her career in the third round of a major for the first time. It should be over pretty quickly, though, with Halep in the kind of form that should take a top 20 player to oust her at least. The former world number one beat Kovinic in straight-sets way back in 2016 and she should do so again here.
