First round matches commence on Monday at the inaugural WTA Transylvania Open in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Fifth seed Ajla Tomljanovic will be one of the star attractions on Day 1. The Australian is having a career best season. Tomljanovic closes the action on Centre Court when she faces the potentially dangerous Anastasia Potapova. We also predict the rest of the day’s matches in a separate article.
WTA Transylvania Open Day 1 Predictions
Anna-Lena Friedsam vs Alexandra Ignatik
H2H: First meeting.
Alexandra Ignatik breezed through the qualifying draw in Cluj-Napoca, dropping a combined six games through straight set wins over Rebecca Sramkova and Vanessa Popa Teiusanu. The Romanian has been toiling away at the ITF level and now has a rare chance to secure a main draw win at a tour level event when she takes on a struggling Anna-Lena Friedsam. The German has lost 11 of her last 15 matches and looks vulnerable heading into this clash. I’ll side with Ignatik here, the Romanian is used to the conditions having come through qualifying and has more wins to her name of late, albeit at the ITF level. Friedsam is a mess at the moment.
Prediction: Ignatik in 2
Lesia Tsurenko vs Andreea Prisacariu
H2H: First meeting.
Lesia Tsurenko is trying to rebuild her career. The former world #23 currently sits at #145 in the world and is having to battle just to get into the lowest level WTA events. The Ukrainian wasn’t totally convincing in her progression through the qualifying draw, a 7-6 6-3 win over Yvonne Cavalle-Reimers was followed by a 7-5 6-1 victory against Andreea Rosca. The Ukrainian has been handed a favourable first round matchup in the main draw against local wild card Andreea Prisacariu. The Romanian will be competing in the main draw of a WTA event for the firs time in her career. Tsurenko isn’t at her best these days, but is surely still playing solid enough to get the better of the inexperienced 21-year-old.
Prediction: Tsurenko in 2
Ajla Tomljanovic vs Anastasia Potapova
H2H: 1-1
Ajla Tomljanovic is getting closer and closer to breaking her career high ranking thanks to a brilliant season highlighted by a maiden Major quarterfinal at Wimbledon. Tomljanovic currently sits at #43 in the world, a few places away from her career high of #39. Another strong week for the 28-year-old will surely see her achieve a new career high ranking. Anastasia Potapova looms as a dangerous first-up opponent. Potapova’s best is very good, but her best is rarely seen. Tomljanovic defeated Potapova 7-5 6-0 in Miami earlier this year, a win that kick-started Tomljanovic’s resurgence. Tomljanovic’s base level is higher than Potapova’s, Tomljanovic has a more consistent and versatile playing style and should be too solid on this occasion given their respective form lines.
Prediction: Tomljanovic in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
