The 2019 Linz Open is underway. Day 1 will feature three main draw matches and the final qualifying round. But who will advance?
Linz Open Day One Predictions
Stefanie Voegele vs Pauline Parmentier
Head-to-head: Voegele 2-2 Parmentier
This is a final round of qualifying match. Stefanie Voegele claimed victory in their most recent meeting in Lugano six months ago, but Pauline Parmentier took their only indoor hard meeting. And the Swiss’ win over Aliona Bolsova Zadoinov was just her second in eight tournaments and it’s hard to imagine her game suddenly clicking. Parmentier is a very solid ball-striker and she impressed against Varvara Lepchenko in the first round of qualifying, winning 7-6 6-4. Expect the Frenchwoman to capitalize on Voegele’s poor form and book her place in the main draw.
Prediction: Parmentier in 2
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Shelby Rogers vs Anna-Lena Friedsam
Head-to-head: first meeting
This is a final round of qualifying match. Both ladies are on the comeback trail following various injury issues. Shelby Rogers just won a big ITF event in Templeton and should be full of confidence heading into the Linz Open. The American was particularly impressive in her dismissal of Kirsten Flipkens in her opening match here, beating the Belgian, who was recently a quarterfinalist in Seoul, 6-3 6-2, and should be in good position to score another victory. But don’t expect her to have it all her own way. Anna-Lena Friedsam is a good competitor and played a great match to beat American young gun Caty McNally in the first round of qualifying.
Prediction: Rogers in 3
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Viktoria Kuzmova vs Julia Grabher
Head-to-head: Kuzmova 2-1 Grabner
Their history looks fairly close, but it’s the Slovak, two years Julia Grabner’s junior, who has been making waves on the WTA tour. Viktoria Kuzmova has had an excellent year, breaking into the world’s top 50 as a result of her efforts. She reached the quarterfinals in Tashkent in her last outing. In something of a contrast, it will be Grabher’s first-ever WTA Tour main draw match and the rise in the level of the competition may well prove too steep for her. Expect Kuzmova to prove just how big of a development she’s made since they last played each other.
Prediction: Kuzmova in 2
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Cori Gauff vs Tamara Korpatsch
Head-to-head: first meeting
This is a final round of qualifying match. The 15-year-old prodigy Cori Gauff choked away the first set against Liudmila Samsonova, but was able to rebound perfectly and the Russian faded completely from the match thereafter. Tamara Korpatsch, meanwhile, came through a nerve-racking three-setter, rallying from a break down in the third set to defeat Arantxa Rus 6-3 4-6 6-3. One suspects that it will take a special performance from the German to dismantle Gauff. The American has once again proven herself to be incredibly mature for her age and her complex game seems to be working well in indoor conditions. Korpatsch has the quality to give her pause, but expect Gauff to prove too strong in the end.
Prediction: Gauff in 3
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