No doubt the spectators in the ski resort of Courmayeur were happy to be indoors to watch some excellent tennis on the opening day of WTA Coumayeur. The freezing temperatures continue into Day 2, though the tennis looks to be good enough to warm the crowd up. Seven matches in total will be previewed, three in this article and four in a separate article.
WTA Courmayeur Day 2 Predictions
Xinyu Wang vs Cristina Bucsa
Head-to-head: first meeting
Both of these players are having quite good seasons but the 20-year-old Chinese is the more exciting prospect long term. She is pressing to enter the top 100 and actually has a 10-8 win/loss record in main draw appearances this season. That ratio puts her very much in the minority in this draw and marks her out as a possible dark horse here. Wang’s service record is also better than Bucsa’s and that could prove pivotal indoors at altitude.
Prediction: Wang in 2
Anna Kalinskaya vs Martina Trevisan
Head-to-head: First meeting
This match is the pick of the first round if you are looking for in-form players. Both have won eight of their last ten matches heading into this, though I gauge Kalinskaya’s form to be slightly better. The Russian won six matches at Indian Wells, three qualifiers and three main draw matches, whereas Trevisan won an ITF tournament in Valencia. Kalinskaya also has a better WTA record overall than Trevisan and that experience and skill makes her a justifiable favorite here.
Prediction: Kalinskaya in 2
Donna Vekic vs Qinwen Zheng
Head-to-head: first meeting
Vekic is a very vulnerable favorite here. She has lost four out of the last five times she has been a narrow favourite and six of her last seven indoor hard matches have been losses as well. Meanwhile, the 19-year-old Chinese is demonstrating herself to be a player of real potential. Having begun the year outside the top 300 she has won two good ITF events and now sits just outside the top 150. In matches against good players she has been dominant, often winning matches for the loss of very few games. I am going to predict the up-and-coming Zheng to get the better of Vekic here.
Prediction: Zheng in 2
Main Photo:
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