Some remarkable goings on at the during Day 1 of the WTA MUSC Health Women’s Open in Charleston, with Misaki Doi having three match points at 2*-5 in the third set and eventually retiring in the final set tie-break against her doubles partner Nao Hibino. There were some other fun matches too on the opening day but the remainder of the opening round will be completed today.
Last Word On Tennis have previews of all ten matches on Day Two. We have five below and the remaining five in an accompanying piece.
WTA Charleston Day 2 Predictions
Claire Liu vs Storm Sanders
Head-to-head: First meeting
Whilst both of these players are ranked in the mid-100s both will think this is a chance to have a decent week on tour. The general standard isn’t unattainable and both players have some good recent tennis on record here at Charleston. Remarkably these two sit next to each other on the rankings list at #188 and #187 respectively but this is Sanders’ highest-ever ranking and she really seems to be on the rise in the game at the moment. This will be a close match but I will give the edge to the Australian in a final set decider because of the extra power in her game.
Prediction: Sanders in 3
Kristie Ahn vs Francesca Di Lorenzo
Head-to-head: Ahn 4-0 Di Lorenzo
This all-American clash sees two really out-of-form players have a chance to gain some confidence and momentum. With the lack of current form, we must look to the head-to-head record to give us a clue here and it is remarkably one-sided. Ahn has won all previous meetings between the two, though their only meeting on the dirt was six years ago at ITF level. Di Lorenzo is the player with the better clay-court record but neither player has played an extensive amount on the red stuff in their career to date. It is difficult to ignore that previous meeting record and Ahn must be taken to progress here, albeit I expect this to be a closer meeting than the previous lot.
Prediction: Ahn in 3
Danka Kovinic vs Viktoriya Tomova
Head-to-meeting: Kovinic 3-1 Tomova
Kovinic had a great run to the WTA 500 version of Charleston last week and clearly enjoys the venue. Her winning record over Tomova is also an advantage, though the three clay court clashes all went to three sets so clearly there isn’t much between the two when they play each other. Tomova, however, has a strangely terrible record in the US. She has lost seven in a row in this country, she is also in good form though, reaching the semifinal in Bogota last week. I fancy that the Montenegrin #1 will squeeze through again in a three set match. Her familiarity with the venue and her confidence will be enough to get her over the line.
Prediction: Kovinic in 3
Maria Camila Osorio Serrano vs Magda Linette
Head-to-meeting: First meeting
The Colombian will play her first match since becoming a WTA Champion for the first time in Bogota last week. That dream run in her home country will be tough to come down from and it may well be that Linette can take advantage of a lack of focus in Osorio Serrano. However, the Pole is in a pretty poor run of form right now and she also has a dire clay-court record on the main tour. In usual circumstances, I would be against the first-time champion coming to the next tournament but Linette’s record is so poor the Colombian might just be able to continue that form on and roll over the Pole.
Prediction: Osorio Serrano in 3
Ons Jabeur vs Stefanie Voegele
Head-to-meeting: Jabeur 1-0 Voegele
It is difficult to see anything other than a Tunisian victory here. These two tennis players are a couple of levels apart in their current ability and also their shot-making. Jabeur is one of the most entertaining and talented players out there right now, but she has found a new level of consistency recently too. The Tunisian is one of the favouites for the tournament and I expect this match to provide a comfortable entry into the week ahead.
Prediction: Jabeur in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
