Set to start with the WTA 1000 event in Toronto, Ashlyn Krueger is gearing up to complete her revenge against Leylah Fernandez in the round of 32 showdown. The American faced a concerning first-match exit at the CITI Open and has been waiting for a chance to regain her momentum since then. The Canadian, on the other side, comes fresh from her Paris Olympics campaign, which unfortunately didn’t last long.

As both are now determined to gain ranking points, the upcoming showdown is expected to be highly intense. But who among the two has better odds of winning? Let’s find out!

Ashlyn Krueger vs Leylah Fernandez: Preview

Krueger currently stands ahead of a tough season as records show terrible struggles in her first-round matches. Her recent defeats at Wimbledon and Washington DC make it clear that she has struggled enough to create a position in the rounds ahead. She has failed to give consistent performances. This inconsistency can be clearly seen in her 7-16 record this season. Along with that, Krueger has found it challenging to compete against higher-ranked players as she lost 13 out of 19 matches against top 70 opponents.

Fernandez, on the other hand, is a mixed bag. At the Paris Olympics, she took down Karolina Muchova and lost to Angelique Kerber in the third round. She has shown glimpses of her best form lately with a third-round finish at Roland-Garros, a quarterfinal in Birmingham, and a final in Eastbourne. Although her results were inconsistent earlier this year, the Canadian is starting to find her momentum. This improvement is crucial as she aims to defend her points from last year’s third-round run in Toronto.

Krueger vs Fernandez: Head-to-head

Ashlyn Krueger and Leylah Fernandez have faced each other just once in their careers. The Canadian leads 1-0 as she took down the American recently in Eastbourne on her quest to make it to the finals. The scoreline of their last matchup was a commendable 6-2, 6-1.

Prediction: Fernandez to win in straight sets

Fernandez currently stands on an even win-loss record of 7-7 on hard courts this season and an impressive career record of 122-70. Her recent performances at Roland-Garros, Birmingham, and a final in Eastbourne make it clear that she’s finding her form. Ashlyn Krueger, on the other hand, also has a balanced score of 10-10 on hard courts this season. However, Fernandez’s consistent performance in recent tournaments gives her an upper hand against her upcoming match rival.

The Candian’s aggressive playing style and powerful forehand are also expected to power her on hard courts. Her two-handed backhand and commendable attitude, even during stressful situations, make her a unique competitor. Fernandez uses an efficient backswing that prepares her hand for a powerful forward explosion. She turns her hips and chest away from her target, extends her elbow, and lowers her hand without any extra motion. 

As she said, “I do try to keep memories [of my work] in mind when I struggle on the court. It does give me motivation to play even better because I don’t want my parents’ sacrifices to have been wasted.” This adds a psychological benefit to her game.

Krueger isn’t too comfortable with playing all around the court. Her groundstrokes are flat, with her forehand her strongest weapon. The American unleashes winners and has good reach, which can keep her in the game. However, defeating Fernandez is a different task altogether, one that she will likely not achieve.