First0round action continues at the inaugural edition of the WTA Astana Open on Tuesday. There are ten matches on the slate and, as ever, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match. But who will reach the second round in the Kazakh capital? Our predictions for the rest of the day’s matches are split between two other articles. One features Anna Danilina vs Kristina Mladenovic, and the other highlights Ana Konjuh vs Anna Blinkova.
Nur-Sultan Day 2 Predictions
(6) Rebecca Peterson vs. Stefanie Voegele
Head-to-head: Peterson 1-1 Voegele
Rebecca Peterson and Stefanie Voegele both enter this opening round clash on four match losing streaks. Peterson showed promising signs during the later stages of the US Open series, reaching the semi-finals in Chicago where she defeated Marie Bouzkova, Viktorija Golubic and Tereza Martincova before pushing Elina Svitolina to 3 sets. The Swede then held match points against Elise Mertens in the opening round of the US Open, but just fell short in a marathon match. However, recent losses to Lucia Bronzetti and Anastasia Zakharova have stalled all momentum.
This looks like a good spot for Peterson to get back to the winners list. Voegele has been a fading force for a while now, barely winning main draw tour level matches. The slow conditions in Nur-Sultan should favour Peterson, the Swede should have the edge from the back of the court and will surely be solid to get through this match-up.
Prediction: Peterson in 2
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(4) Greet Minnen vs. Kaja Juvan
Head-to-head: Juvan 1-0 Minnen
Greet Minnen has the drawn the toughest unseeded opponent in the draw this week. Kaja Juvan arrives in Nur-Sultan fresh from a semi-final showing in Portoroz. Juvan claimed noteworthy straight set victories over Petra Martic and Tamara Zidansek in Portoroz before succumbing to Alison Riske. The 20-year-old hasn’t had the best of seasons but has now had a couple of standout performances to highlight her talent having reached the Wimbledon third round earlier this year, upsetting Belinda Bencic in the opening round in the process.
Juvan defeated Minnen in straight sets in their only previous meeting, a 6-1 7-5 victory on the grass courts of Mallorca in 2019. The conditions in Nur-Sultan will be very different, slow indoor hard courts won’t help Minnen level the head-to-head series. Juvan has the power to match Minnen, whilst possessing greater movement and a better overall game.
Prediction: Juvan in 2
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(1) Yulia Putintseva vs Ekaterine Gorgodze
Head-to-head: Putintseva 1-0 Gorgodze
A strong opportunity presents itself to Yulia Putintseva to win her second title of the season and third overall. The top seed begins her campaign against Ekaterine Gorgodze. Putintseva eased past Gorgodze in their only previous meeting earlier this year. A 6-2 6-4 opening round victory on clay in Budapest on route to her second career title.
Putintseva didn’t have a great run during the North American hard-court swing but has shown signs of a form reversal over the last couple of weeks. Putintseva made the semifinals in Portoroz a few weeks ago, followed by a second round showing in Ostrava last week. The 26-year-old’s opening round defeat of Shuai Zhang in Ostrava was a notable one, a marathon victory lasting three hours and 24 minutes.
Prediction: Putintseva in 2
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