tennis | Tuesday, November 8, 2022 8:40 AM

Tuesday Tennis Best Bet: WTA 125K Colina, Sara Errani vs Sara Bejlek

Jon Reid

Sara Errani vs Sara Bejlek Best Bet: Tuesday, November 8th

It’s a loss on the games handicap by the narrowest of margins, despite a great first set from Tamara Zidansek. Too many unforced errors in the second set, as Harmony Tan played a moonball-oriented defensive style that the Slovenian couldn’t punish.

Onto Tuesday from Colina, where we’ll preview a match between a wily veteran of the game in Sara Errani and one of the brightest young clay-court prospects in the game in Sara Bejlek.

In this article:

Sara Errani vs Sara Bejlek Preview
Sara Errani vs Sara Bejlek Best Bet

Sara Errani vs Sara Bejlek Preview

November 8th, 15:00 UK Time

It’s been a strong season for one of the many exciting Czech prospects in the women’s game. For someone to have won several ITF titles – regardless of the level – at just 16 years old is quite the feat (her compatriot Brenda Fruhvirtova, who’s also playing this event, has done the same, making the Czech Republic a tour de force in women’s tennis development).

Bejlek will come up against one of her bigger tests in the first round of action, taking on ever-consistent Italian Sara Errani. It’s a matchup that will allow the teen and her team to prepare relatively easily.

There isn’t much to the Errani gameplan other than work the ball side-to-side and avoid unforced errors and double faults as much as possible. It wouldn’t be harsh to describe her as someone who relies more often on her opponent to lose the match than to win it herself.

As is the case with most teens that specialise in clay-court tennis, Bejlek also employs a very similar gameplan – based first around consistency from the baseline, and then on building up to being a bit more aggressive to win points.

The bright side for the junior in this one is that while her serve may face some pressure, she’s almost certain to have plenty of opportunities on return herself. That makes this match much more palatable than it could have been had she been taking on a more aggressive tour pro with weapons to keep her on the back foot.

Sara Errani vs Sara Bejlek Best Bet

It’s tough for me to make the case that Bejlek should be a strong favourite in this match, seeing as Errani is more experienced and is an expert at finding ways to win, while being an underpowered and relatively weaponless player.

I can, however, make the case that with a consistent game of her own, a developing game and plenty of talent, along with comfort on the surface, that she has just as good a chance to win this match as the Italian does.