There are six matches on the slate on day one at the WTA Luxembourg Open and there should be plenty of entertaining tennis for the fans in the Principality. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the schedule, including Astra Sharma vs Clara Tauson. But who will reach the second round?
WTA Luxembourg Day 1 Predictions
Oceane Dodin vs Anastasia Zakharova
Head-to-head: first meeting
Oceane Dodin has shown glimpses of her full potential on the main tour since she burst onto the scene five years ago in Quebec city. Injuries and inconsistency dictated her career trajectory in recent seasons and consequently exited the top 100. The Frenchwoman could get her ranking back down into double digits this week if she can produce a deep run. And she is very much capable of it. Dodin has enjoyed a turnaround in fortunes in 2021, highlighted by a semifinal showing in Palermo – her first since 2017 – and she also registered two decent wins on the American hard courts beating Karolina Muchova and Coco Vandeweghe. Her opponent Anastasia Zakharova will be playing in just her second WTA main draw match and it is tough to see her pulling off the upset in this one.
Prediction: Dodin in 2
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Ekaterina Alexandrova vs Stefanie Voegele
Head-to-head: Alexandrova 2-0 Voegele
Ekaterina Alexandrova’s form has dipped alarmingly of late. She started the year with top 20 aspirations after a fine 2020 season, but there has been little to celebrate so far this season. She stalled her poor run of results with a rare win over Sara Errani at the US Open, but she followed that up with a lackadaisical performance in a shock defeat to Kamilla Rakhimova in the second round. The Russian will have a chance to make amends in her opener in Luxembourg against the unseeded Stefanie Voegele. The Swiss veteran has posted one main draw win on hard courts before this and may well come out second best in baseline exchanges against the efficient fourth seed.
Prediction: Alexandrova in 2
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Alize Cornet vs Anastasia Potapova
Head-to-head: first meeting
This should be the day’s most intriguing matchup as both players employ two different playing styles. Cornet is a dogged competitor who has the knack of keeping her opponents pinned on the baseline. Potapova, for her part, will take the role of the aggressor in this one. The Russian possesses penetrating flat groundstrokes. But her risk-tolerant approach too often yields one error too many. Cornet is in better form and was extremely unfortunate at the US Open for drawing Ons Jabeur in the first round. Expect her to get back to winning ways here at the young gun’s expense.
Prediction: Cornet in 3
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