Day 1 of tennis at the Tokyo Olympics is Saturday (in Tokyo; late Friday night in the United States), and we’re here to share our thoughts on every match. Players fight for ranking points and national glory, and the Olympics almost always brings out the best in athletes. Monica Puig won this tournament in 2016, but she’s not in the draw this year. Who will win on Day 1? Our writers share their thoughts. Predicting this set of matches are Jim Smith, Damian Kust, and Yesh Ginsburg. We also have predictions for the rest of the day’s matches, split between three other articles. One features Barbora Krejcikova vs Zarina Diyas, the second headlines Maria Sakkari vs Anett Kontaveit, and the third features Kiki Bertens vs Marketa Vondrousova.
Tokyo Olympics Day 1 Women’s Predictions
Belinda Bencic vs Jessica Pegula
Jim:
Belinda Bencic’s performances seem to veer from excellent to dreadful almost entirely at random. If she is at her best, she has enough in her game to win this match. But Jessica Pegula is a consistent and effective baseliner enjoying the best season of her career. She seems like the safer pick.
Prediction: Pegula in 3
Damian:
Pegula has been one of the most surprising performers of the season and her most brilliant results came on hard courts. Along with Bencic’s shaky and unstable form, this is surely an upset alert.
Prediction: Pegula in 3
Yesh:
Pegula was in great form early in the year, playing a tremendous all-court style that took her to the Australian Open quarterfinals. Bencic might be the ranked player here, but Pegula has better form and results this year, especially on hard courts.
Prediction: Pegula in 3
Misaki Doi vs Renata Zarazua
Jim:
Several Japanese players have received kind draws at the Olympics this year, which perhaps goes someway to making up for the lack of fans in the stands. Misaki Doi is one of them and the Japanese veteran looks well-placed to reach at least the second round as a result.
Prediction: Doi in 3
Damian:
This feels like a toss-up. Doi won’t be able to rely on the home crowd, but she should be much better used to the heat and the conditions. With both players last competing on hard courts in Miami, such an edge could be decisive.
Prediction: Doi in 3
Yesh:
Neither of these players are particularly impressive, and both are fortunate to face each other and have a chance to move on to Round 2. I have no idea who will play better, but Zarazua has the better upside, so seems like the least tough choice.
Prediction: Zarazua in 3
Leylah Annie Fernandez vs Dayana Yastremska
Jim:
Dayana Yastremska should not want for motivation after losing months of her career to a suspension for doping that was ultimately overturned. She looked sharp on her return to action in Hamburg reaching the semifinals and with Leylah Fernandez having been short of form of late, the Ukrainian should feel confident in her chances of reaching the second round.
Prediction: Yastremska in 3
Damian:
It’s just the second event of the year for Yastremska, but for what it’s worth she had a very decent run at Hamburg. She’s still a question mark but with Fernandez barely winning matches since her Monterrey title, the Ukrainian should have a decent shot.
Prediction: Yastremska in 3
Yesh:
What an incredible first-round matchup this could be. Two potential young stars of the game battling it out at the Olympics. Unfortunately, Yastremska is returning from an overturned doping ban, and Fernandez has been in poor form recently. Yastremska is out to prove herself and in fine form, so I like her here.
Prediction: Yastremska in 2
Kiki Bertens vs Marketa Vondrousova
Jim:
It is sad that Kiki Bertens’ career has been so badly blighted by injury. The Dutchwoman briefly looked nigh-on certain to win a Major, but will now retire at the end of this year a spent force. Marketa Vondrousova remains less consistent than she would like, but she should be comfortable here.
Prediction: Vondrousova in 2
Damian:
Bertens really deserves a better send-off but there was nothing in her past few performances to suggest she still has it. Vondrousova likes the slower conditions just as much as the Dutchwoman and she should end Bertens’s career here.
Prediction: Vondrousova in 2
Yesh:
This could very well be Bertens’ final career match. For someone on their way out of the sport, the Dutchwoman hasn’t found any new forms of inspiration. Then again, that’s more or less why she is retiring, anyway. It’s unfortunate, but I expect Bertens to bow out on a sour note.
Prediction: Vondrousova in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
