After an exciting US Open, the WTA tour heads to Asia with a number of big titles set to be up for grabs over the coming weeks, including the Jiangxi Open. But on the second day in Nanchang, when a home favourites including Zhang Shuai and Peng Shuai are in action, who will advance and who will fall by the wayside?
WTA Jiangxi Open Day Two Predictions
Gao Xinyu vs Wang Xinyu
Head-to-head: first meeting
Unlike most players, wildcard Gao Xinyu found herself playing on clay last week as she lost in the quarterfinals of an ITF event in Changsha to Nina Stojanovic in straight sets. Wang, meanwhile, qualified for the US Open, dropping just one set in the process, but lost in the first round to her compatriot Zhu Lin. However, the fact that she was able to qualify into the main draw at a Major is a testament to the 17-year-old’s quality.
This will be the first meeting between this pair, but Wang is the much higher-ranked player at world #192, whilst Gao languishes at a relatively lowly #556. Wang is also in much better form, having beaten three top 200 players to qualify for the US Open. She’s been doing great at 25k-level ITF events and reached the quarterfinals of a $80k event in July. Expect Wang to be too good for Gao in this match and book her place in the second round.
Prediction: Wang in 2
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Nina Stojanovic vs Wang Yafan
Head-to-head: Stojanovic 1-0 Wang
After coming to within two points of qualifying for the US Open against Taylor Townsend, who went on to reach the fourth round beating Simona Halep en route, Serbia’s Nina Stojanovic returned to her preferred clay and won an $60k ITF event in Changsha. The Serbian has found a rich vein of form this summer and will hope to continue that into this Autumn’s Asian swing. Wang, in contrast, only won two matches during the North American summer, going 2-5.
Stojanovic also leads the head to head 1-0, winning a hard court match in 2016 over Wang in straight sets. While Stojanovic’s biggest successes this summer were on clay, the fact that she was able to get so close to beating Townsend in the final round of qualifying is very impressive. While Wang did win her maiden WTA title this year in Acapulco and will have the backing of the crowd at the Jiangxi Open, she is out-of-form at the moment. Stojanovic moves on.
Prediction: Stojanovic in 3
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Samantha Stosur vs Arina Rodionova
Head-to-head: Stosur 2-1 Rodionova
Samantha Stosur only played twice during the North American hard court season, losing both times and brings a three-match losing streak into the Jiangxi Open. Arina Rodionova had average North American hard court season, having gone 5-5 since Wimbledon. Stosur does lead the head to head 2-1, but these two have not played since 2008. Stosur, a former US Open champion, has the higher peak, but Rodionova has played more on hard courts recently. Stosur has a huge forehand, but it’s hard to see her being consistent enough to threaten her countrywoman. Rodionova wins this one in an upset.
Prediction: Rodionova in 3
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Stefanie Voegele vs Kristyna Pliskova
Head-to-head: Pliskova 2-0 Voegele
Switzerland’s Stefanie Voegele has played on a hard court just once since Wimbledon, losing in the first round of US Open qualifying to the Australian Zoe Hives in three sets. She has also lost five of her last six matches overall and so will be desperate to recapture some form at the Jiangxi Open. Kristyna Pliskova, meanwhile, went 2-2 during the North American hard-court season and lost in the second round of the US Open to Elise Mertens in straight sets.
Pliskova leads the head to head 2-0, which includes one previous match on this surface. Pliskova will look to control the match with her big serve and huge lefty forehand. She certainly has the ability to overpower Voegele. However, if Pliskova’s off, she can struggle to temper her power with accuracy and Voegele is definitely good enough to take advantage of that. But it is hard to argue with the form book here. Expect the Czech too prove to strong.
Prediction: Pliskova in 2
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