Dayana Yastremska will begin her campaign at the Hamburg WTA 250 clay tournament on July 16, facing a challenging first-round match against local player Jule Niemeier.
The Ukrainian world number 39 enters the German competition looking to overcome her head-to-head deficit against Niemeier, who currently ranks 184th in the WTA standings but holds a 1-0 advantage in their previous meetings.
Scheduled as the second match on the center court following the Alexandrova-Wedder contest, Yastremska's match is expected to start around 13:30 Kyiv time. The timing could be significant, as mid-afternoon conditions might affect play on the clay surface.
Interestingly, this match represents an unusual ranking disparity between the competitors, with Yastremska positioned 145 spots higher than her German opponent. Despite this gap, their history suggests the Ukrainian can't take anything for granted.
The stakes are clear for both players - the winner advances to face France's Diane Parry in the second round. For Yastremska, this tournament offers a valuable opportunity to gain momentum on clay before bigger events on the calendar.
Can the Ukrainian overcome her previous defeat against Niemeier? The Hamburg crowd will certainly be backing their compatriot in what promises to be an intriguing first-round encounter.
