The clay courters head to Switzerland in the build-up to Rome, Madrid, and Roland Garros. The hosts will be hoping that Belinda Bencic can continue her rising form and build upon her clay debut, where she made the quarterfinals in Charleston last week. She awaits a qualifier in the first round. Alternatively, they will be looking for a resurgence from the talented but injury-prone Timea Bacsinszky. Last year’s winner Elise Mertens doesn’t participate this time around, so there’ll be no defending champion.
There are some interesting match-ups, here’s a selection of them:
Lugano Day 1 Predictions
Svetlana Kuznetsova vs Ekaterina Alexandrova
No history
Veteran clay court mainstay Svetlana Kuznetsova makes her seasonal debut – there is no reason why she won’t be a force on the surface again. This is an intriguing Russia vs Russia contest and 24-year-old Alexandrova is on the rise. She has lost her last two matches and an 8-7 record on clay last year suggests a liking for the surface, but Kuznetsova’s clay experience should allow her to edge this.
Prediction: Kuznetsova in 3
Viktorija Golubic vs Arantxa Rus
No history
Home country player Viktorija Golubic has had a steady time of things, making it through qualifying at both Miami and Indian Wells. Dutch World #131 Arantxa Rus, without being disrespectful, is an above average ITF player, but she should not trouble Golubic in front a Swiss crowd.
Prediction: Golubic in 2
Mona Barthel vs Sorana Cirstea
Head-to-head: Bathel 1-1 Cirstea
Barthel’s groundstrokes were in range in a good three-match winning run in Indian Wells. It took Venus Williams to stop her. Barthel has never met her Romanian opponent Sorana Cirstea on clay, but Barthel is arguably more comfortable on the surface and should take this.
Prediction: Barthel in 2
Timea Bacsinszky vs Tamara Korpatsch
Head-to-head: Korpatsch 1-0 Bacsinszky
Former French Open semiinalist Timea Bacsinszky will be hoping that the return to her favorite surface in her home country will see her return to the level that saw her reach world #9 in 2016. Now, partly due to injury and a form dip, she finds herself ranked world #113. The clay season is an opportunity to start climbing the rankings. Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch, whilst boasting a clay victory over Bacsinszky, comes into this match on a four-match losing streak. Bacsinszky’s clay pedigree should help her address the current head-to-head deficit.
Prediction: Bacsinszky in 2
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