Kaja Juvan and Lesia Tsurenko are among the players in action on day 1 of the WTA Cluj-Napoca Winners Open tournament on clay in Romania. Here is a look at all of the first round action on Monday.
Kaja Juvan vs Marina Melnikova
Juvan is struggling without question, but Melnikova is not a WTA caliber player right now, she’s never achieved a top 150 ranking and only has 2 WTA tour wins in 14 matches in her career. Sporadic ITF and WTA qualifying success aside for Melnikova, Juvan looks to be the better player with a stronger WTA resume, perhaps this match will give her the opportunity to find the form she’s been lacking all season. Juvan in 3
Evelyne Tiron vs Lara Arruabarrena
A former top 60 player, Arruabarrena has fallen on hard times and hasn’t made a run of any note since reaching the quarters in Bogota months ago. The Spaniard is a clay court specialist and will be desperate to break a three match losing streak and a 1-5 record overall since qualifying for the French Open. Tiron is an NCAA player at the University of South Florida, and a local wild card as she hails from Bucharest. This is a great opportunity for the home player who hasn’t played outside of the NCAA circuit since 2018. Arruabarrena’s experience on clay should shine through but this could get interesting. Arruabarrena in 2
Elena-Gabriela Ruse vs Lesia Tsurenko
Tsurenko is winless at WTA level this season, the former top 25 player has found some success in WTA qualifying and the ITF circuit though. Ruse sits at a career high just outside the top 100, the home Romanian player is having a breakthrough season after her winning her first WTA title as a qualifier in Hamburg, and backing that up with a run to the final in Palermo. Ruse compiled an incredible 13-1 record in recent weeks with the back to back finals, and now gets to play at home during the best run of form of her tennis career. Tsurenko is a competitive opponent, but everything favors Ruse in this matchup. Ruse in 2
Briana Szabo vs Katarzyna Kawa
The 15 year old Szabo makes her WTA debut, Kawa comes off the quarterfinals of a home tournament in Gdynia, by far her best tournament result of the season. Kawa is not a world beater but she has found some form and Szabo is a total unknown. The Polish player is favored. Kawa in 2
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