With the WTA tour in full swing, Adelaide prepares to host it’s second tournament in as many weeks. The world’s best are in Australia gearing up for the first Grand Slam of the year. It’s no surprise then that the draw for this tournament is stacked with talent and big names in the women’s game. Headlining this set of predictions is Czech star Marketa Vondrousova. She – along with the likes of Elina Svitolina and Aryna Sabalenka – is one of the favourites for the title here in Adelaide. That being said, she will have to play great tennis if she wants to lift the trophy. With that being said, let’s look at how her and the rest of the field in action on Monday should fair in our WTA Adelaide 2 day 1 predictions.
WTA Adelaide 2 Day 1 Predictions
Nuria Parrizas Diaz vs Alize Cornet
Head-to-head: First meeting
If I’d told you Nuria Parrizas Diaz was the favourite heading into this match six months ago you would have laughed in my face. However, after a career year in 2021 and a quarterfinal appearance in Melbourne last week, the Spaniard is indeed the favourite here. Alize Cornet was mostly poor in 2021 but did show enough signs of life to keep her near the top 50 in the women’s game. However, she will need to do a lot more to keep that spot this year with several players lining up to break through onto the main tour. This is looking like a bad start to the year for the Frenchwomen as Parrizas Diaz is in fine form and full of confidence. Cornet lost in the first round last week and I’m afraid the same fate may well await her here.
prediction: Parrizas Diaz in 3
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Marta Kostyuk vs Shelby Rogers
Head-to-head: First meeting
This should be a great match to watch. Both Shelby Rogers and Marta Kostyuk aren’t afraid to go for winners and both are full of confidence after great campaigns last year. Kostyuk had a poor start to the year last week, losing to Claire Liu in an upset of a result. Rogers by contrast made the quarterfinals in Adelaide last week before losing to Elena Rybakina. That run and the familiarity with these courts give the American the edge here. This one should go to a third set, but Rogers should find a way through in the end.
Prediction: Rogers in 3
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Marketa Vondrousova vs Viktorija Golubic
Head-to-head: 1 – 1
This is a tough match to call. Viktorija Golubic and Vondrousova met twice last year and split the difference with one win each. They both also had really positive years in 2021. Golubic made her first Grand Slam quarterfinal at Wimbledon whilst Vondrousova won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Vondrousova probably has the higher level of the two and certainly has a bag of tricks at her disposal. However, Golubic generates more power than the Czech and is braver when going for winners. That bravery will be rewarded in Adelaide, so I’m backing the Swiss star to advance here.
Prediction: Golubic in 3
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