The first round matchups will be completed on day 2 of the WTA 250 level TEB BNP Paribas Tennis Championship Istanbul. Expect heavy conditions, with rain consistently on the radar. Numerous interesting matchups are scheduled on Tuesday, weather permitting. The pick of the matches sees the seventh seeded Sara Sorribes Tormo take on China’s Wang Qiang in a matchup that promises to feature a heap of extended baselines exchanges, who will come out on top?
WTA Istanbul Day 2 Predictions
Tereza Martincova vs Anna Bondar
H2H: Martincova 1-0.
Martincova and Bondar have both produced mediocre results throughout the first couple of months of the season. Both are capable on the clay and will see this as a winnable opening round matchup in Istanbul. Martincova defeated Bondar 7-5 5-7 6-2 on clay in Lugano in 2019 in their only previous meeting. However, Martincova’s recent struggles should give Bondar a decent chance at revenge. Bondar’s results on clay last year were far more impressive and I’ll give her the slight edge in this matchup because of that in an otherwise even matchup.
Prediction: Bondar in 3
Ipek Oz vs Arantxa Rus
H2H: First meeting.
Arantxa Rus has desperately struggled in 2022, having won just two main draw matches at the tour level. Rus arrives in Istanbul fresh from a disappointing Fed Cup tie with Spain where she lost each of her singles matches in straight sets to Nuria Parrizas-Diaz and Sara Sorribes Tormo. The good news for Rus is that she couldn’t have asked for a much better first round matchup in Istanbul as she takes on local wild card Ipek Oz. The Turkish player is vastly less experienced at this level but isn’t without a chance given the mediocre form of Rus. I still think Rus will be too solid, she’s experienced enough to make the most of this opportunity on her favorite surface.
Prediction: Rus in 3
Lesia Tsurenko vs Anna Karolina Schmiedlova
H2H: Schmiedlova 3-1.
Lesia Tsurenko required almost three hours to get through her final round qualifying match with Jaimee Fourlis. A win that leaves the Ukrainian vulnerable heading into the main draw. Tsurenko has less than 24 hours to recover for a difficult opening round clash with Anna Karolina Schmiedlova. Tsurenko is injury-prone at the best of times, coupled with heavy conditions in Istanbul, a bad combination after a long match. Meanwhile, Schmiedlova is very capable in these types of conditions, she has shown that several times in the past and I expect her to be too solid for a potentially fatigued Tsurenko on this occasion.
Prediction: Schmiedlova in 3
Qiang Wang vs Sara Sorribes Tormo
H2H: First meeting.
Surprisingly this is the first career meeting between Wang Qiang and Sara Sorribes Tormo, a fun matchup on paper. Sorribes Tormo is better known for her clay court craft, but Wang Qiang is sneakily capable on the surface. Wang is better used to the tricky conditions in Istanbul having come through the qualifying draw. I think she has what it takes to get through this matchup. The match will be on Wang racquet, she has greater firepower off both wings and behind her serve–this is key in heavy conditions. It will come down to patience and execution for Wang. Sorribes Tormo’s groundstrokes are likely to drop short and sit up nicely in these conditions for Wang to attack. If Wang is clinical enough she will emerge victorious.
Prediction: Wang in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
