2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu locks horns with Kazakhstani qualifier Yulia Putintseva in the round of 32 of the Abu Dhabi Open on Tuesday.
The Canadian star began the season by playing in the Adelaide International 1. After notching up a sensational come-from-behind win in the first-round clash versus Garbine Muguruza, Andreescu went on to lose to 4th seed Veronika Kudermetova in the round of 16. Andreescu was bageled once each in the two matches. At the Australia Open, Andreescu picked up a comfortable victory against 25th seed Marie Bouzkova in the first round. However, her run ended in the second round as she lost to Cristina Bucsa after winning the first set.
Andreescu played some fine tennis at the Thailand Open en route to the semifinals. However, she had to retire during her semi-final match against Lesia Tsurenko while trailing 5-7, 0-4, and losing 8 games on the trot. Andreescu had suffered a shoulder injury that forced her to pull out.
The 28-year-old had a rough start to the season as she lost to Iga Swiatek and Belinda Bencic at the United Cup. In Hobart, Putintseva made it to the quarterfinals with wins against Claire Liu and Nuria Parrizas-Diaz. In the Australian Open, Putintseva defeated Sorana Cirstea in the first round before going down to Karolina Pliskova in the following round.
Putintseva comes into the tournament after a rather forgettable campaign in the Thailand Open. The 2nd seed crashed out in the first round after losing to Heather Watson.
Yulia Putintseva has a slender 1-0 lead against Bianca Andreescu in the head-to-head scoreline.
Prediction: Bianca Andreescu to win in straight sets.
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