Day two at the Jiangxi Open will see the Asian swing kick off an earnest, with a number of excellent and experienced touring professionals set to be in action at the WTA International-level event in Nanchang, including Acapulco titlist Wang Yafan who takes on Nina Stojanovic. But who will get their Autumn off to a winning start and who will fall by the wayside?
Jiangxi Open Day Two Predictions
Zhang Shuai vs Aleksandra Krunic
Head-to-head: Zhang 1-0 Krunic
Zhang Shuai had a fine run at the US Open, beating Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland and Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova, before running into an in-form Johanna Konta in the third round, where she lost 2-6 3-6. Now back in front of her home fans in China, she will surely be desperate to carry that good form forward. And she may well feel confident about her chances up against Aleksandra Krunic, who she beat in their only previous meeting and who is without a win since July on the clay in Palermo. Krunic’s court-coverage can make her a tricky opponent, but Zhang should have the accuracy to secure victory in this one.
Prediction: Zhang in 2
Embed from Getty Images
Zhu Lin vs Peangtarn Plipuech
Head-to-head: Zhu 2-1 Plipuech
Forays onto the main tour have been fairly rare for Thailand’s Peangtarn Plipuech, although she did twice finish as runner-up in the doubles in Seoul. And she should be match tough after coming through the qualifying at the Jiangxi Open, beating the Chinese players Sun Xiu Lu and Yang Yidi to book her place in the main draw. But world #115 Zhu Lin, who has won two of their three meetings although not their most recent, could prove a tough test for Plipuech. There is not a huge amount between the two, but Zhu has that much more experience for a reason and will have the backing of the crowd in Nanchang.
Prediction: Zhu in 3Embed from Getty Images
Elena Rybakina vs Ankita Raina
Head-to-head: first meeting
After an excellent season, fourth seed Elena Rybakina will surely have high hopes of putting together a deep run at the Jiangxi Open. She begins her campaign with a potentially testing encounter against top-ranked Indian Ankita Raina, in what will be the pair’s first meeting. Rybakina, who was the top seed during the US Open qualifying, succeeded in reaching the main draw, but lost there in the first round to Wimbledon quarterfinalist Karolina Muchova. Raina, meanwhile, lost in the second round of qualifying to Denisa Allertova. There is a gap of over 120 places in the WTA rankings between this pair and one suspects there is a reason for that.
Prediction: Rybakina in 2
Embed from Getty Images
Peng Shuai vs Paula Badosa Gibert
Head-to-head: first meeting
Peng Shuai, though best known for her exploits on the doubles court, has had another consistent year in singles and was last in action in New York, where she reached the second round as a qualifier. Spanish young gun Paula Badosa Gibert too has impressed in 2019 and broke into the top 100 for the first-time last month. But like most of her compatriots, she is more at home on the clay, though she did successfully negotiate the qualifying at the US Open. Nonetheless, it is hard to look past the fact that this match is being contested on Peng’s favourite surface in front of a crowd that will back her to the hilt. That should tip what promises to be a tight contest in her favour.
Prediction: Peng in 3
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
