The WTA Lyon Open has already made headlines by granting the Yastremska sisters a wild card into the doubles draw as they had to flee Ukraine but the play starts today in France. As always, we here at LWOT will preview and predict every match. Who do you think will win?
WTA Lyon Open Day 1 Predictions
Anna Bondar vs Yuriko Miyazaki
Head-to-head: first meeting
Bondar had a real breakthrough year in 2021, starting at No. 275 and ending in the Top 100, making her way up the rankings through strong play on the ITF circuit. Bondar is trying to establish herself on the main tour this year but has yet to find much success. On the other side of the net will qualifier Yuriko Miyazaki, who is set to make her WTA main draw debut at 26. Miyazaki pulled off two decent wins in qualifying, beating Julia Grabher and Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove. Bondar should be the favorite as she has been on this stage before but Miyazaki might just pull of an upset.
Prediction: Bondar in 3
Stefanie Voegele vs Elsa Jacquemot
Head-to-head: first meeting
A meeting of an experienced qualifier and a young wild card here. Voegele has a positive 8-6 record in 2022 so far but is still looking for her first WTA main draw win of the season despite managing to qualify for the Australian Open and Doha. This will be her best shot yet as Jacquemot is ranked lower than the opponents Voegele faced in qualifying, Georgina Garcia Perez and Ekaterine Gorgodze. The 31-year-old beat both without dropping a set. Jacquemot, the 2020 Roland Garros girls’ champion, is also enjoying a solid season. The 18-year-old reached her second career ITF final at a 25k in Manacor in a run that included wins over former main tour players Mandy Minella and Kurumi Nara. Despite the home crowd for Jacquemot, Voegele is the favorite for me with her experience and strong career record on indoor hard.
Prediction: Voegele in 2
Ana Konjuh vs Katie Boulter
Head-to-head: Konjuh 1-0 Boulter
After putting together a strong case for comeback player of the year in 2021, Konjuh has been successful in establishing herself as a Top 50 player this year. The 24-year-old is yet to suffer a first-round loss in 2022 but by the same token is also yet to reach a quarterfinal this year.
Boulter also had a comeback season last year, though not to the extent of Konjuh’s, starting outside the Top 350 and finishing just inside the Top 150. The 25-year-old struggled to start her year, going 1-3, but really found herself in Grenoble. Boulter won the ITF 60k, including wins over Martina Trevisan and Anna Blinkova, and is now on a seven-match win streak after qualifying in Lyon. With her form, this match is definitely one to watch and though I do not think it will be easy, I do think Boulter will pull off the upset and take Konjuh out.
Prediction: Boulter in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
