WTA Stuttgart Open Odds & Preview: Bianca Andreescu Returns

The Stuttgart Open is the only indoor clay-court tournament at the top level. The clay is slippery and fast. There are lights to deal with. Not many of the contenders have much Stutgart experience.

Defending champion Ashleigh Barty is retired. The most experienced veterans, Angelique Kerber, Karolina Pliskova and Petra Kvitova have tough draws. Kerbers plays No. 5 seed Anett Kontaveit in the first round. Plistova plays Petra.

Bianca Andreescu is back after six months away to deal with mental health issues. She is playing in the WTA Stuttgart Open this week. Her first opponent is German wild card Jule Niemeyer, ranked No. 109.

Jule Niemeier is the slight favorite against Bianca Andreescu. Andreesceu has been training on clay for about a month.

Coco Gauff and Daria Kasatkina are playing each other in Stuttgart Open. Kasatskine has a better game on clay. Gauf won the last time they played in Miami three years ago.

The bottom half of the court is denser than the top. Whoever makes it to the final and faces Swiatek might not have the energy to give it a proper go.