Sunday saw the start of the WTA Gippsland Trophy, one of the six events going on at Melbourne Park over the next week. With a number of first round matches complete, the remainder are going to be completed on day two, with a number of second round matches also to be played. As ever, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the slate, including Elina Svitolina vs Andrea Petkovic and Elina Svitolina vs Andrea Petkovic. But who will advance in Melbourne?
WTA Gippsland Trophy Day Two Predictions
Danka Kovinic vs Jelena Ostapenko
Head to head: Ostapenko 2-1 Kovinic
It feels like a lifetime ago Ostapenko shocked the world and won Roland Garros. Since then things haven’t gone as many expected for her, results got worse and she’s become stuck ranked around 50 in the world. In a hard fought win against former slam finalist Sara Errani in round one she now takes on Kovinic from Montenegro who’s found some fairly nice wins since the tour restart last autumn, beating the likes of Julia Goerges and Belinda Bencic. I expect Ostapenko to come through but just like her previous round, it won’t be easy.
Prediction: Ostapenko in 3
Caty McNally vs Karolina Muchova
Head to head: first meeting
19-year-old Carty McNally’s tennis career has somewhat taken off, but more so in doubles with Coco Gauff than in singles. Ranked outside the Top 100 and an alternate in this event, she could really use whatever wins she can come across. Muchova, on the other hand, is simply a few leagues above in singles tennis level, despite results not being amazing, she’s pushed and beaten enough top players to show what she’s really about.
Prediction: Muchova in 2
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Ekaterina Alexandrova vs Anna Karolina Schmiedlova
Head to head: Alexandrova 1-0 Schmiedlova
We have a battle between Russia and Slovakia. Alexandrova, ranked #33 in the world, should win this fairly routinely against her opponent ranked over 100 places lower than her. I can’t say I expect much of a fight from Schmiedlova here–she doesn’t have the game to compete unless Alexandrova is far below par.
Prediction: Alexandrova in 2
Alize Cornet vs Ajla Tomljanovic
Head to head: Cornet 1-1 Tomljanovic
In what is arguably the most intriguing of today’s matches and no doubt one of the most even on paper, Serbian Alja Tomljanovic is hoping to turn her form from the last few months around. With six losses in a row to end 2020, things were a little better in Abu Dhabi just a few weeks ago in which she won her opening round match. Unfortunately for her, the Frenchwoman, ranked #53, should have too much in her game and will send Tomljanovic into yet another loss.
Prediction: Cornet in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
