Less than a day after Bianca Andreescu defeated Serena Williams to capture her first Grand Slam title, the Women’s Tennis Association continues its tour. Next stop, Hiroshima, for the Hana-cupid Japan Women’s Open. With the tour’s biggest names on the sidelines, there are point opportunities for 32 players just below the top tier of the game. Who will advance through Day 1?
WTA Hiroshima Monday Predictions
Zarina Diyas vs Danka Kovinic
Diyas started the summer outside of the Top 100; she is now #80. In Cincinnati and Washington, D.C., she knocked off four players inside of the Top 100 as well as defeating rising teenager CoCo Gauff in straight sets. She fell to Ash Barty in the US Open, but took a set off the #2 seed. Kovinic won several matches this summer at the ITF level but the move up to this level of competition will be too much.
Prediction: Diyas in 2
Alison Van Uytvanck vs Ysaline Bonaventure
This is an interesting match up between two 25 year olds from Belgium. Both had weak hard court results in the summer after stronger play earlier in the year on other surfaces, though Van Uytvanck gained some momentum with a main draw win in the first round of the US Open. Van Uytvanck produced more wins this season, including winning their only previous match up – a three set affair on clay in Rabat, Moracco. Van Uytvanck will again advance over her fellow Begian, this time in straights.
Prediction: Van Uytvanck in 2
Priscilla Hon vs Katarzyna Kawa
Hon is ranked #130 in the world; Kawa just two spots back at #132. This looks to be a big opportunity for each player to notch a win and some coveted points. Kawa bowed out quickly in the first round of US Open Qualifying while Hon won two matches in qualifying, lost the third, then entered the main draw as a Lucky Loser. Hon’s recent success and match toughness should carry her through a tight first round affair.
Prediction: Hon in 3
Veronika Kudermetova vs Vavara Lepchenko
Lefty Vavara Lepchenko grinded through the summer with only one hard court win and three total hard court matches before winning two qualifying matches at the US Open. No. 2 seed Kudermetova qualified at the hard court event in Cincinnati, and advanced through Round 1 before falling in the Round of 32. Lepchenko routinely struggles against players inside the top 100. World #51 Kudermetova should move on in.
Prediction: Kudermetova in 2
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Disagree with our WTA Hiroshima Monday Predictions? As always, feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments.
