After some excellent tennis on day one at the Kremlin Cup, there should be more entertaining action in store for the fans in Moscow on day two. With players looking to end the season strong, expect the competition to be fierce in Moscow. But who will advance to the second round?
Kremlin Cup Day Two Predictions
Timea Babos vs Kaia Kanepi
Head-to-head: Kanepi 2-0 Babos
Timea Babos has had middling results since the US Open, although she did pick up a good win over Jelena Ostapenko in Seoul. Kaia Kanepi, meanwhile, qualified for this tournament without dropping a set, although she was perhaps fortunate that Anhelina Kalinina retired during the first set of their second-round qualifying match. And she may feel confident heading into this match, as she leads the head to head 2-0, including a comfortable straight-sets win in Miami earlier this year.
Both players will be looking to play on the front foot and on top of the baseline to control the points. Kanepi, a former quarterfinalist at the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open, is one of the bigger hitters on tour and will be acclimatised to the conditions in Moscow. And considering her head-to-head advantage, it is hard to see any outcome other than a Kanepi win. Expect her power game to once again prove too much for Babos to contend with.
Prediction: Kanepi in 2
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Jana Cepelova vs Ekaterina Alexandrova
Head-to-head: Alexandrova 1-0 Cepelova
Jana Cepelova qualified for the Kremlin Cup in impressive fashion, dropping just one set in three qualifying matches. Ekaterina Alexandrova, meanwhile, arrives in Moscow in fine form having made the semifinals of the indoor hard-court tournament in Linz last week. In fact, Alexandrova came within one point of the final on three different occasions, but ultimately fell to Jelena Ostapenko in three sets. She may struggle to put that defeat behind her.
But she does lead the head-to-head 1-0, having won on clay earlier this season. Alexandrova has a big serve and big groundstrokes, particularly on an indoor hard court and will be playing in front of her home fans. Cepelova has had solid results since returning to the hard courts during the late summer and early fall, including qualifying for the US Open without dropping a set. However, expect Alexandrova’s power to be the decisive difference.
Prediction: Alexandrova in 2
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Polona Hercog vs Katerina Siniakova
Head-to-head: Hercog 2-1 Siniakova
Polona Hercog, after a miserable summer, has had some fine results since the US Open, but struggled badly against Donna Vekic in the first round in Linz last week, winning just two games in a bruising loss. Katerina Siniakova has also had decent results since the US Open, but lost in straight sets to Kiki Mladenovic in the first round in Linz last week. Hercog leads the head to head 2-1. Both players use a lot of variety, although Siniakova is more of a counter-puncher than Hercog, who is not as comfortable on defense, but is more willing to step up in the court and dictate with her forehand. Neither player had a good result in Linz, but the indoor hard courts should suit Hercog’s game better.
Prediction: Hercog in 3
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Ons Jabeur vs Veronika Kudermetova
Head-to-head: Kudermetova 1-0 Jabeur
Ons Jabeur had a very good week in Tianjin, making the semifinals and coming within a set of the final, before falling to the in-form Rebecca Peterson. Veronika Kudermetova also impressed in Tianjin, making the semifinals on the other side of the draw, but she lost in straight sets to Heather Watson in the semifinals. Kudermetova leads the head to head 1-0, having won a grass-court matchup earlier this season in straight sets.
Kudermetova has enjoyed an excellent good run of form since the US Open, having qualified and won two main draw matches in Wuhan as well as making the semifinals of Hiroshima. Jabeur will try to use her variety to get Kudermetova out of rhythm. However, Kudermetova’s form has been very impressive recently so expect her to win against Jabeur, although it will likely be close. Kudermetova advances.
Prediction: Kudermetova in 3
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