There are 16 matches on the slate on a packed day two at the WTA Cincinnati Masters, held for the first time in its history in New York due to restrictions imposed on travel by the continuing coronavirus pandemic. Amongst those in action are Leylah Fernandez, who faces Ons Jabeur, Yulia Putintseva who is to take on Zhang Shuai and former US Open champion Sloane Stephens. But who will advance and who will fall to defeat?
WTA Cincinnati Masters Day Two Predictions
Magda Linette vs Vera Zvonareva
Head-to-head: first meeting
Vera Zvonareva has enjoyed an excellent career, highlighted by her runs to the final at Wimbledon and the US Open in 2010. And whilst she appears unlikely to scale those heights again, the Russian has done well to re-establish herself as a member of the top 100 since making her comeback from retirement in 2017. The 35-year-old demonstrated her enduring quality with excellent qualifying wins over Danka Kovinic and Astra Sharma.
Magda Linette does, however, mark a notable step up in the quality of her opposition, with the Pole seeming at home on the hard courts of North America. That said, on her return to action at the Top Seed Open in Lexington she was not entirely convincing, losing in the second round to eventual champion Jennifer Brady after a good first-round win over Lauren Davis. This could be a close contest, particularly with Zvonareva acclimatised to the New York conditions, but Linette is the higher-ranked player for a reason and should have enough to advance.
Prediction: Linette in 3
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Katerina Siniakova vs Kirsten Flipkens
Head-to-head: first meeting
This should be an entertaining contest between two attacking, all-court players. Kirsten Flipkens looked some way below par on her return to action in Palermo and was well-beaten in the first round by Liudmila Samsonova. But she bounced back from that disappointment in the WTA Cincinnati Masters qualifying, edging out Katarina Zavatska, 5-7 7-5 7-6, before Katie Volynets retired trailing 1-6 0-2 to hand Flipkens a place in the main draw.
But the Belgian will need to sharpen her focus if she is to get the better of Siniakova. The Czech has had a rather indifferent season, but she remains a formidable opponent thanks to her hard and flat groundstrokes and her touch in the forecourt. Flipkens may feel confident about her chances of contending with Siniakova in and around the net, but she seems likely to be overpowered from the baseline. Expect Siniakova to advance.
Prediction: Siniakova in 2
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Marie Bouzkova vs Anna Kalinskaya
Head-to-head: first meeting
After an excellent North American summer swing in 2019, Marie Bouzkova made a solid start to the resumption of the 2020 season at the Top Seed Open, only to suffer a demoralising 1-6 2-6 defeat at the hands of Jennifer Brady in the quarterfinals. And the Czech now faces a tricky first-round test at the WTA Cincinnati Masters up against Russian qualifier Anna Kalinskaya, who impressed in dispatching both Patricia Maria Tig and Sorana Cirstea in straight-sets to reach the main draw.
The Russian is an exceptionally clean ball striker and can do damage off both wings. She also clearly enjoys the conditions in Flushing Meadows, having scored a career-best win over Sloane Stephens in the first round at the US Open last season. However, she does not possess much in the way of variety, with her patterns of play rather predictable at times. That could ultimately spell trouble for the 21-year-old against an opponent who covers the court as well as Bouzkova.
Prediction: Bouzkova in 3
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Alize Cornet vs Sofia Kenin
Head-to-head: Kenin 2-1 Cornet
Alize Cornet made short work of Caty McNally in the first round, hammering the young American 6-0 6-4. But she will almost certainly find McNally’s compatriot Sofia Kenin a tougher nut to crack. Kenin, who won the Australian Open in January, may well have benefitted from the lengthy break in the season, which will have given her the chance to reflect on that momentous triumph away from the constant grind of the regular season and so avoid the slump that has followed so many maiden Grand Slam wins.
In truth, such a slump did not look likely to take hold of Kenin, who has proven herself a swift and determined competitor. And she arrives into this match on a five match winning streak after claiming the Lyon Open title in her last tournament before the start of the lockdown. This will be the fourth meeting between Kenin and Cornet, with the American having won their two most recent matches in convincing fashion. Expect a similar outcome at the WTA Cincinnati Masters.
Prediction: Kenin in 2
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