We didn’t have to wait long for the seeds to start falling in Adelaide’s second WTA tournament of the year. Second seed Elina Svitolina was ousted in straight sets by American Madison Keys. The depth present at this event means it’s highly likely more seeds will tumble in the coming days. Which, if any, of the seeds in action on Tuesday will live to fight another day you ask? Who else will we see moving on? Well, we try and answer those questions in our WTA Adelaide 2 day 2 predictions.
WTA Adelaide 2 Day 2 Predictions
Anastasia Potapova vs Madison Brengle
Head-to-head: First meeting
Anastasia Potapova is a bright young talent who many more casual fans would have heard of if not for unfortunate and untimely injuries. The young Russian took a few years to find her feet as a pro after winning junior Wimbledon in 2016. However, by the end of 2019 she looked settled and ready to make a real charge up the rankings. She is still only 20 and a strong year last year suggests she is ready to fulfil her potential in 2022. Her opponent, Madison Brengle, is a veteran of the WTA tour and is enjoying a purple patch at the moment. She finished 2021 with her highest year-end ranking since 2015 and had some notable results last year. However, her continued presence in the top 100 is largely due to success in Challenger and ITF events on home soil. The American is good but not elite whereas Potapova could well be. The young Russian has the higher level of the two and should come through this in the end.
Prediction: Potapova in 3
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Madison Inglis vs Danka Kovinic
Head-to-head: First meeting
Danka Kovinic is the better player here. She has finished the year ranked inside the top 100 on six different occasions. By contrast, Madison Inglis has failed to do it yet. The Aussie is still young, but she is yet to show signs of the consistent excellence needed to be a mainstay on the WTA tour. The gulf between these two isn’t much, but Kovinic does everything slightly better than Inglis does. She also has more power at her disposable, something that will be rewarded on the faster courts in Adelaide. As such, I expect the Montenegrin to advance relatively easily here.
Prediction: Kovinic in 3
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Dayana Yastremska vs Tereza Martincova
Head-to-head: 1 – 0 Martincova
Dayana Yastremska looked set to become the next big name in women’s tennis at the end of 2019. She finished the year ranked #22 in the world and lifted two titles that year. However, the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with injuries and a doping scandal, put the breaks on her rapid rise. The result of those factors was a dismal 2021 campaign. She now finds herself outside the top 100 in the women’s game for the first time since 2017 and will be desperate to rectify that early on in 2022. Fortunately for us tennis fans, she showed signs of life towards the back end of 2021. However, Tereza Martincova is a tough opponent who enjoyed a career year in 2021. She will take some beating here. Both play aggressive tennis and like being on the front foot. Yastremska has more power and more weapons in her arsenal and should win this if she can find something near her best. Two wins in qualifying should help her do exactly that. Expect the Ukrainian to move on here.
Prediction: Yastremska in 3
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Coco Gauff vs Katerina Siniakova
Head-to-head: 2 – 0 Gauff
The head-to-head here says it all really. Coco Gauff is a potential Grand Slam winner of the future and is already among the elite players in the women’s game at just 19 years of age. Siniakova is a solid if unspectacular singles player who has made a name for herself primarily on the doubles circuit. The Czech often bullies opponents into submission with consistency and an undying willingness to work for her points. However, against someone who can generate power like Gauff can that skillset likely won’t be enough. Gauff’s huge serve and lethal backhand should give her too many easy points for Siniakova to overcome in this match. it may go to three sets if the American’s radar is off, but it’s hard to pick against Gauff getting the job done eventually here.
Prediction: Gauff in 2
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