Day two at the Wuhan Open will see the conclusion of the first round as well as the first of the second-round clashes. Already in China, American Sloane Stephens has ended her three match losing streak, ousting hometown favorite Zhang Shuai, whilst China’s Zhu Lin and Wang Xiyu also fell in the opening round. But the struggling Caroline Garcia claimed an easy victory over Russia’s Daria Kasatkina. But who will advance?
Wuhan Open Day Two Predictions
Caroline Wozniacki vs Hsieh Su-wei
Head-to-head: Wozniacki 4-1 Hsieh
Hsieh Su-wei has excellent feel, but her favoured drop shots may not work well against Caroline Wozniacki. With the Dane’s fitness improving, her speed will quickly put her in position to negate Hsieh’s attempts to catch her out. That means that Hsieh will need to find other weapons against this elite player. And, the Hsieh serve certainly won’t be one. The Taiwanese star lost her serve 13 times in only two matches at the Japan Open. That spells trouble against a returner of Wozniacki’s quality, who will take advantage of any weak deliveries. Expect to see the Hsieh serve broken with regularity and Wozniacki to be moving on to the second round.
Prediction: Wozniacki in 2
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Madison Keys vs Camila Giorgi
Head-to-head: Keys 3-2 Giorgi
It’s hard to know if Madison Keys’ fitness level will allow her to truly compete in Wuhan. After retiring in the quarterfinals at the Pan Pacific Open with a foot injury, it remains unclear as to whether the American has yet recovered. But Keys has been in exceptional form, winning in Cincinnati and reaching the round of 16 at the US Open. The American has been playing with focus and is showing patience, waiting for the right ball before pulling the trigger. Gone is the overhitting and errant shots finding a home in the stands. In its place is a determined Keys well-capable of winning even the biggest tournaments.
Camila Giorgi, meanwhile, has had an exceptional hard-court swing, reaching the finals at the Citi Open and the Bronx Open. While the hard-hitting Italian lost in the quarterfinals of the Pan Pacific Open, she demolished Stephens 6-0 6-3 in the second round in Osaka. If Keys is healthy, this will be quite a contest. But Giorgi, who excels at absorbing and redirecting pace, will make the most of the match up. Expect her to edge this contest.
Prediction: Giorgi in 3
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Aryna Sabalenka vs Danielle Collins
Head-to-head: Sabalenka 1-0 Collins
The first upset of the Wuhan Open was scored by Danielle Collins who edged out former-champion Venus Williams in straight sets, 7-5 7-6. An exceptional return of serve allowed Collins to break serve on five occasions. But the American’s own serve, which was broken four times by the veteran Williams, will need to improve if she is to have any joy when she meets the defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the second round.
Sabalenka made an exceptional start to her campaign against her compatriot Aliaksandra Sasnovich. Dropping just three games, Sabalenka broke serve four times and saved all three break points that she faced in what was a dominant display. When the Belarusian is serving well, it’s nearly impossible to stop her. After Collins’ errant serving and Sabalenka’s strong first-round performance, it’s hard to see any other outcome than a Sabalenka victory.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 2
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Petra Kvitova vs Polona Hercog
Head-to-head: Kvitova 1-0 Hercog
Polona Hercog impressed in her opening match against Jessica Pegula, dropping just a single game en route to a straight-sets win. That should boost the Slovenian’s confidence after what has been a difficult period in which she has won only one main draw match since Wimbledon in July. But Hercog’s return to winning ways may ultimately prove to be short lived as she takes on the two-time Wuhan Open champion, Petra Kvitova.
The Czech superstar sat out most of the North American hard-court swing with an arm injury and hasn’t played a match since her disappointing second-round elimination at the hands of Andrea Petkovic at the US Open. But that time away from the court should have given Kvitova ample time to heal in ahead of what is surely one of her favourite stops on the WTA Tour. And, a healthy Kvitova will be too strong for Hercog.
Prediction: Kvitova in 2
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