The hectic tennis season continues after the US Open. As we start towards the Asian swing, the WTA Hiroshima Open is one of the first of many tournaments held in the two-month-long Asian hard-court season.
WTA Hiroshima Open Day 1 Predictions
Anastasia Potapova vs Zoe Hives
Head-to-head record: Potapova leads 1-0
Potapova is a young dark horse that has been under the radar from a lot of tennis fans. The 18-year-old Russian won the Junior Singles Wimbledon back in 2016 and troubled the other teenage sensation, Coco Gauff, in the US Open last week.
Even though the teenager has a lot to improve and work on, such as consistency, she should get through this round. Especially when Potapova beat Hives earlier this year on the same surface.
Prediction: Potapova in two.
Nao Hibino vs Leylah Fernandez
Head-to-head record: Leylah Fernandez leads 2-0
Nao Hibino, the former world no. 56, has struggled for the majority of the 2019 season. The 24-year-old Japanese has mainly played qualifying and ITF tournaments due to a low ranking and has not had a major breakthrough in these tournaments.
Fernandez is a 17-year-old Canadian that is currently the no. 1 junior in the world. She won the singles Junior Singles Roland Garros title earlier this year and has mainly been playing on the ITF circuit so far.
Fernandez will come into this match with much confidence as she has already beaten her opponent twice this year. It will be a close match as Hibino will have the home support, and it will be interesting to see how the teenager copes with that.
Prediction: Fernandez in three.
Christina McHale vs Greet Minnen
Head-to-head record: First meeting
Not many fans may have heard of the Dutch player, Greet Minnen. The 22-year-old, ranked 120 in the world, is one of the few openly lesbian tennis players. She is currently in a relationship with fellow Dutch player Alison van Uytvanck.
It will be a close match as neither player is that in-form at the moment. But the American has more experience on the tour, and that could prove decisive in terms of who wins this match.
Prediction: McHale in three.
Su-Wei Hsieh vs Risa Ozaki
Head-to-head record: Su-Wei leads 1-0
The top seed here, Hsieh, has recently had a resurgence in her singles career and has been playing well and consistent all year. The 33-year-old Taiwanese is also the defending champion, as she looks to seal back-to-back titles here in Japan.
This will be Ozaki’s first WTA tournament of the year as she has been playing on the ITF circuit for all the 2019 season. It will be a big leap in terms of level especially when Hsieh is very in-form at the moment.
Prediction: Hsieh in two.
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