The WTA 2019 Nurnberg Cup main draw in under way. Sunday saw three main draw matches completed. Top seed Yulia Putintseva was making short work of Dalila Jakupovic 6-2 3-0 when the Slovenian retired. The Kzakhstani top seed looks in a ruthless mood for Nurnberg, hoping to build up momentum to defend quarterfinal ranking points at the French Open 2019. Slovakia’s Jana Cepelova came from behind in the third set against German Katharina Gerlach to secure main draw action, winning 3-6 6-4 6-4.
Day 2 sees the nitty-gritty of the first round action taking place. The 2006 French Open runner-up and 2009 French Open champion, Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova, is in action. She is seeking to build up form on clay for her favorite Slam. She takes on Sweden’s Johanna Larsson, who sorely needs a win to snap an eight-match losing streak. Here are our WTA Nurnberg Day 2 Predictions.
WTA Nurnberg Day 2 Predictions
Anna-Lena Friedsam vs Irina-Camelia Begu
Head-to-head: Friedsam 1-0 Begu
World #522 is a far better player than her ranking suggests, especially on clay. This could be a tight match-up. Little advantages may come into play, like the fact that Friedsham has already played on this year’s surface- winning a first round doubles match with fellow German Mona Barthel. Friedsham breezed through qualifying in Stuttgart when last in WTA action, and gave Kiki Bertens a tough match in a tight, two sets defeat.
Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu has finished the past three clay seasons with a winning record. She is 3-3 on clay this season, suggesting that she is not in as good form as previous seasons. Friedsham is 3-2 on clay so far and will be keen to preserve her winning record. She may just do that with home-crowd support and a head-to-head advantage to spur her on.
Prediction: Friedsam in 3
Kristyna Pliskova vs Jule Niemeier
No history
Germany’s 19-year-old Jule Niemeier didn’t drop a set in her two qualifying matches. This has earned her a deserved WTA main draw debut, in front of a home country crowd. She moves well on clay and her game will grow in confidence. However, Kristyna Pliskova caught people by surprise in making the semifinals in Lugano. She beat clay court veteran Svetlana Kuznetsova en route to the semis. Pliskova’s experience should see her through.
Prediction: Pliskova in 2
Vitalia Diatchenko vs Veronika Kudermetova
No History
This is an intriguing all-Russian encounter. The rangy Diatchenko has been choosing to gain match experience in successful switches to ITF events at times this season. Prior to this season, Diatchenko didn’t have too much clay exposure at WTA level. She is 2-2 on the surface this year.
Kudermetova, on the other hand, has had a plus win-loss clay record for the previous three seasons. This year Kudermetova is 6-5 on clay and made the quarterfinals in Istanbul. She is slightly better off the ground than her opponent, so should edge this one.
Prediction: Kudermetova in 3
Svetlana Kuznetsova vs Johanna Larsson
Head-to-head: Kuznetsova 1-0 Larsson
This is a nightmare matchup for Sweden’s Johanna Larsson to try and break her losing streak. A tight hard court victory in two sets for the Russian represents their only previous meeting. Kuznetsova hasn’t played much this season, but pushed an in-form Belinda Bencic hard in Madrid. She just ran out of steam in the third set; match fitness cost her a victory, really. Larsson will break her duck soon, just not in this match.
Prediction: Kuznetsova in 2
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