SOME of the WTA Tour’s top players descend on Prague for the 2020 Prague Open fantasy tennis tournament which kicks off next week. The Czech Republic is the strongest female nation and all their top players are returning home to take to the courts, along with a number of genuine title contenders on the clay. In last year’s final, Swiss qualifier Jil Teichmann got up to defeat home nation player, Karolina Muchova in three sets.

FAVOURITE:

Karolina Pliskova (CZECH REPUBLIC)

The number one seed here at Prague and will want to maintain her world number four ranking with a good showing. The Czech talent will want to put the disaster at Stuttgart behind her where she went down to Yulia Putintseva in the second round – after having a bye in the first. Prior to that though, Pliskova reached a quarter final in Charleston so will be keen to get that form back in her her home nation. After earning the number one seed 12 months ago, Pliskova had to withdraw from the tournament, so has no points to defend here.

CONTENDERS:

Petra Kvitova (CZECH REPUBLIC)

The second ranked Czech could well be deserving of favouritism given her form. Kvitova went down to Ash Barty in the Charleston final, and then reached a semi-final in Stuttgart last week. If she can continue that momentum here in Prague, expect her to be a real threat to Pliskova’s crown. A good run here could see her move up to 12th in the world with Bianca Andreescu not competing, and begin to make up ground on the top 10. Kvitova has a potential quarter final clash with compatriot and last year’s runner-up, Muchova.

Garbine Muguruza (SPAIN)

A massive tournament for the in-form Muguruza who if she wins and results go her way elsewhere, could well snatch eighth spot on the WTA Tour world rankings. Fresh off a title at Stuttgart where she had wins over a number of top 10 players – including second seed here, Elina Svitolina – Muguruza is primed to move further up the rankings. The two-time Grand Slam winner is also in the easier half of the draw – top half – so could well eye off a semi-final clash with Pliskova if all goes well.

Elina Svitolina (UKRAINE)

Came close to another title last week at Stuttgart, but fell to Muguruza in the final. Her form coming into Prague is really solid, and while she potentially has a second round clash with Anastasija Sevastova and then prospective matches against Angelique Kerber and Kvitova on the way to the final. Whoever goes deeper in the tournament out of Svitolina and Pliskova will own fourth spot in the world post-tournament. Like Pliskova, the second seed has no points to defend.

ROUGHIE:

Karolina Muchova (CZECH REPUBLIC)

Last year’s runner-up is the fifth seed here, and while the quality in 2020 is greater than last year, Muchova could still cause a few headaches. Looking at the draw, her first round encounter with Svetlana Kuznetsova was not an easy first-up match, and she will likely have Kvitova waiting for her in the quarter finals. Anything is possible, but her draw is tough.

DARK HORSE:

Jil Teichmann (SWITZERLAND)

The reigning champion is ranked 61st in the world, but would have been frustrated when the draw was released. Her first round match in Prague is against the in-form Putintseva, and then Kvitova will be waiting in the Round of 16. Teichmann will need to be at her absolute best to repeat her run fro last year, and she has the talent, but the luck has not been on her side with the draw.