Some excellent players have come to Austria to play in this well organized tournament. The top seeds come in during the second round but there are eight exciting matches on Day 2 to find out who else will make it into that round. We also predict the rest of the day’s matches in a separate article.
WTA Linz Day 2 Predictions
Jaqueline Cristian vs Kamilla Rakhimova
Head-to-head: Rakhimova 2-0 Cristian
There is something of a theme in the matches in this article in that the matches are quite hard to call. Looking at the head-to-head it seems quite straightforward that the Russian has the advantage. However, since her run to the US Open third round there have been some abject displays from Rakhimova, including last time out against Sarah Beth Gray (ranked #444) where the Russian won only three games. Cristian has been a little inconsistent herself though. She replaces Sorana Cirstea for this encounter as a lucky loser so having lost in these conditions before she will have to pick herself up for this match. Cristian has been installed as favorite but I think that Rakhimova has the better game for the conditions and with the positive of having beaten Cristian twice, including once this year, she has the edge.
Prediction: Rakhimova in 3
Kateryna Kozlova vs Xinyu Wang
Head-to-head: First meeting
These two are both in very good form coming into this meeting. Both had to qualify but did so well, and also both made a couple of rounds in Courmayeur as well. In my opinion Wang has the better all round game and until there is more of a feel of conditions in Linz I am more minded to side with the player who has more to their game. The young Chinese will be aiming to break the top 100 after this week and a deep run here will be very important to her. Back her to get off to a solid start here.
Prediction: Wang in 3
Harmony Tan vs Rebecca Peterson
Head-to-head: First meeting
This probably earns the title of “most in-form pairing” in the first round. Both have won eight of their last ten matches but, in my opinion, Peterson has done so at a higher level. She reached the semifinals in Cluj after winning a high level ITF tournament the fortnight previous. Tan has done well in qualifying here and her service games have been very impressive. However, Peterson is a good returner of serve and I would back her to get on top of Tan’s delivery and be able to assert herself in the match.
Prediction: Peterson in 2
Greet Minnen vs Oceane Dodin
Head-to-head: Dodin 1-0 Minnen
The previous meeting between these two came back when both were teenagers so we can’t read too much into that. Minnen is now the higher ranked player of the two and has had quite a consistent season. However, the Frenchwoman has better recent form and also has the better indoor record of the two. It is a tough one to call because of the similarity in the records between the two but I am going to edge towards a Dodin victory here. Her serve has improved for playing indoors in the recent past and that could prove to be the difference maker between the two.
Prediction: Dodin in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
