The home country crowd will be buoyed up by the Swiss comeback victory of Vikorija Golubic on Day 1 in Lugano. Round 1 continues on Day 2 and throws us some intriguing contests. The match-ups will be fierce as players seek to build up clay form early and get those matches in.
33-year-old Mandy Minella’s best performance for some time came in Switzerland on clay reaching the Gstaad final. She is still a high energy, entertaining player and is sure to draw the crowds on Day 2.
Below is a pick of the matches for Day 2 in Lugano.
WTA Lugano Day 2 Predictions
Fiona Ferro vs Mandy Minella
Head-to-head: Ferro 2-0 Minella
The previous ITF level meeting on clay was a lot closer than the hard-court one. Another balancer is the Luxembourg player, Mandy Minella’s, clay court victory in the first round in Charleston against Anna Schmiedlova. Albeit this was gray clay, her affinity for clay is still prevalent. Minella moved well on the surface against the seasoned clay courter Petra Martic in her 2nd-round loss.
22-year-old Belgian-born French player Fiona Ferro went 26-11, mainly at the ITF level, on clay last year. This incorporated taking the title at the Curitiba ITF. She has pedigree on the surface. Although, this match could well be closer than the head-to-head suggests, especially with Ferro making her seasonal clay court debut.
Prediction: Minella in 3
Iga Swiatek vs Maryna Zanevska
No history
Poland’s 17-year-old sensation could soon be hot on Bianca Andreescu’s tail as the next breakthrough star. One main draw victory at both Indian Wells and Miami represents progress for such a young star. However, a 34-5 clay record last year means we could start seeing the best of her soon. 25-year-old Ukrainian Maryna Zanevska is in good form, taking an indoor carpet ITF title in Obidos, Portugal last week. This will be a competitive encounter, but Swiatek’s clay court prowess should come to the fore.
Prediction: Swiatek in 3
Ylena In-Albon vs Kristyna Pliskova
No History
The Visp-born home country 20-year-old Ylena In-Albion boasts a clay victory over Timea Bacsinszky in her past. Her ITF results suggests that this is the world #183’s favourite surface. In-Albion comes her on a two match losing streak, but Kristina Pliskova is on a three-match run. In-Albion should be more comfortable with the surface and the home crowd support could nudge her over the line.
Prediction: In-Albon in 3
Belinda Bencic vs Antonia Lottner
Head-to-head: Bencic 1-0 Lottner
The world #178 German Antonia Lottner won a tight qualifying contest against Austrian world #189 Barbara Haas to earn this shot at Belinda Bencic. Lottner is definitely better than her ranking suggests, but she’ll need to be heaps better against the Swiss favourite. Belinda Bencic made a steady start to her clay season reaching the quarterfinals in Charleston. Bencic could well be a dark horse for the French Open 2019, so it’s reasonable to expect her to navigate safely through this match.
Prediction: Bencic in 2
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