Will the former champion shine in California?
When Laura Siegemund won her first major singles title (ITF Mallorca 2006), Petra Marcinko was not even a year old. Now the young Croatian is about to make her debut at a WTA 1000 tournament and is keen to build on her performance at the 2026 Australian Open, where she survived the first round of her Grand Slam debut.
There, too, she faced a German opponent, eliminating Tatjana Maria 2-0. Nevertheless, in Laura Siegemund vs. Petra Marcinko, our tip is for the 38-year-old from Filderstadt, who continues to focus on doubles but is still far from being past her prime in singles.
Speaking of doubles: the two athletes just faced each other in Dubai. Together with Vera Zvonareva, Siegemund defeated Marcinko and her partner Antonia Ruzic 2-0 (6-3, 6-1). Although this does not necessarily mean anything for the singles, the momentum is somewhat in favor of the German, who has already played five singles matches in Indian Wells, winning only one of them. However, the young Croatian will inevitably have to pay some dues in her career.
There is much to suggest that this match will be decided in two sets. We suspect that either the German will make short work of the Croatian, as she did in the doubles three weeks ago in Dubai, or Marcinko will show on her debut on this big tennis stage in California why so many experts see the player who won the 2022 Australian Open junior singles title as a future top 10 player. In that case, it could also go her way in two sets.
While the tip for under 2.5 sets, for which the Bet -at-home app offers odds of 1.50 for Laura Siegemund against Petra Marcinko, the least risky option, but all risk-taking bettors could also go directly for a 2-0 victory for the Filderstadt native, for which bet365 is offering impressive odds of 3.40.
Laura Siegemund – Petra Marcinko Head-to-head record
Head to head: 0:0
The two players have never before crossed paths in a ranked singles match on the WTA Tour. However, they are not complete strangers. Just three weeks ago, they faced each other in the women’s doubles in Dubai. Together with her partner Vera Zvonareva, Laura Siegemund defeated Petra Marcinko and Antonia Ruzic 2-0 (6-3, 6-1). Now they meet again in singles.
Laura Siegemund – Petra Marcinko Tip
Although the 38-year-old German has long since shifted her focus to doubles, she is still capable of strong performances in singles. As recently as 2026, she reached the quarterfinals at two major tournaments, the Wimbledon Championships and the Wuhan Open, while her young challenger from Croatia is now making her debut at a WTA 1000 tournament. We therefore predict that Laura Siegemund will prevail against Petra Marcinko, with all her experience against the 20-year-old Croatian, who has lost her last four singles matches on the WTA Tour.
The winner of this match will face Australian Open semifinalist Elina Svitolina in the second round, which is sure to be a really big match that, despite all the focus on the doubles, should certainly provide the German veteran with plenty of motivation. Also, because the betting odds for Laura Siegemund vs. Petra Marcinko are leaning toward the Croatian, the best value can be found in betting on the Filderstadt native to win this match.
