With the Autumn’s Asian Swing now well underway, the WTA tour heads to southern China for the Guangzhou Open, a WTA International-level event. A number of excellent players will be in contention for the title, but who will book their place in the second round on day one?
Guangzhou Open Day One Predictions
Aliaksandra Sasnovich vs Aleksandra Krunic
Head-to-head: Krunic 1-0 Sasnovich
This promises to be an entertaining baseline battle. Aliaksandra Sasnovich has unquestionably enjoyed the better year and currently sits inside the top 50 at world #47. Krunic, in contrast, has struggled badly in 2019 and finds herself outside the world’s top 120 as a result. But her court coverage ensures that she is never an entirely straightforward opponent. Sasnovich, however, should feel confident heading into this contest, despite losing to Krunic in straight-sets in their only previous meeting in 2012. She has improved considerably since then and should have the variety to see off the Serbian.
Prediction: Sasnovich in 2
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Ons Jabeur vs Bernarda Pera
Head-to-head: Jabeur 1-0 Pera
It has been an excellent season so far for Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur, one she will surely have high hopes of continuing during the Asian Swing. Particularly after impressing during a run to the last 32 at the US Open that saw her upset 27th seed Caroline Garcia in the first round. Bernarda Pera too has played some fine tennis in recent weeks and was perhaps unlucky to lose narrowly in the first round in New York. But unfortunately for the American, she could well find herself falling just short in the first round again. Jabeur has the greater weight of shot and willingness to step in and dictate and that should prove decisive.
Prediction: Jabeur in 3
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Marie Bouzkova vs Xan Fang Ying
Head-to-head: first meeting
Such is the depth of young talent on the WTA tour that it is easy to overlook Marie Bouzkova. She may not have had quite the standout results as some of her fellow young guns such as Bianca Andreescu, Marketa Vondrousova and Amanda Anisimova, but the 21-year-old has played some excellent tennis this year, most recently in reaching the semifinals in Toronto. Xun Fang Ying, meanwhile, may be three years older, but she lacks experience at tour-level. That showed in her 0-6 3-6 loss to Rebecca Peterson in Nanchang. Though she will have the advantage of having come through the qualifying at the Guangzhou Open, a similar result seems likely.
Prediction: Bouzkova in 2
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Samantha Stosur vs Tereza Martincova
Head-to-head: first meeting
It is hard to escape the feeling that Australia’s Samantha Stosur is coming towards the end of her glittering career. Her once fiery forehand seems to have lost much of its pop and her speed around the court has declined precipitously of late. Tereza Martincova, in contrast, has been playing well of late and came through the qualifying to reach the main draw at the Guangzhou Open comfortably. That should leave her accustomed to the conditions in Guangzhou, which can be difficult to adapt to. Expect that to give her an edge that Stosur proves unable to overcome.
Prediction: Martincova in 3
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