Linz Open: Martic vs Van Uytvanck Tennis Prediction & Pick

TennisSection previews the 2023 Linz Open as Petra Martic takes on Alison Van Uytvanck in the second round on Thursday, February 9, 2023.

It’s a popcorn second-round match at the Linz Open as Croatia’s No. 1 Petra Martic faces the indoor specialist Alison Van Uytvanck. Who will prevail and move into the quarterfinal?

Petra Martic is seeking to reach a second quarterfinal at the Linz Open and her first since 2012. But her challenge will be a huge one coming up against Alison Van Uytvanck who is regarded as one of the best indoor hard-court performers. Martic won her first-round match here very easily, dispatching Spanish qualifier Marina Bassols Ribera in straight sets. She is now 4-4 since the turn of the year and will look to pull off an upset on Thursday.

Alison Van Uytvanck, by contrast, scored one of the upsets of the week at the Linz Open. The World No. 76 was too polished for Czech teenager Linda Noskova, breezing to a straight sets win. The Belgian is such an intelligent player on indoor surfaces having won the bulk of her seven WTA titles in these conditions. Will she back up that win by taking down Petra Martic?

Petra Martic leads Alison Van Uytvanck 2-0 in their head-to-head, winning the last encounter on the clay courts of Palermo last season. But as I reiterate on this playing surface and these conditions, Van Uytvanck is a nightmarish opponent to play against. She hits as flat as a pancake which makes her shots very difficult to control or anticipate. This will be a tough test for Martic and I’m not sure she will pass it with flying colors.