Four Round 2 matches are on Wednesday’s schedule, Day 3 at the 2022 WTA Internazionali Femminili di Palermo. Which of the seeds is in biggest danger of getting kicked out of the tournament? Is it Anna Bondar in the all-Hungarian battle against Panna Udvardy? Or Shuai Zhang, who’s never felt quite at home on clay courts? Who do you think will advance?
WTA Palermo Day 3 Predictions
Irina-Camelia Begu vs Oceane Dodin
Head-to-head: 1-1
Both their matches at Grand Slams were extremely close, but they’re yet to face each other on clay courts. Feels like in this matchup it’s a surface that should be advantageous for Irina-Camelia Begu. She’s simply not as one-dimensional as Oceane Dodin and plays a less risky playstyle. The Frenchwoman’s weaponry will certainly help to keep it close, but she might not have the consistency to hit through the court with the efficiency required.
Prediction: Begu in 3
Anna Bondar vs Panna Udvardy
Head-to-head: Udvardy 2-0
Matches like this one in Round 2 of a WTA 250 are a great example e of the progress women’s tennis has made in Hungary of late. Anna Bondar and Panna Udvardy got here with some brilliant ITF results last year (and in the case of the former, also the WTA 125K level). The difference is how they’ve reacted to breaking through to the WTA Tour. Bondar was able to grab two semifinals this year already (including in Budapest last week), while Udvardy has mostly struggled. The 25-year-old should keep her run going, despite the negative head-to-head.
Prediction: Bondar in 3
Leolia Jeanjean vs Sara Sorribes Tormo
Head-to-head: First meeting
Sara Sorribes Tormo has been a frequent quarterfinalist on the WTA circuit in 2022, reaching that stage five times. Her shots can lack penetration on clay, but her grinding and the ability to make things uncomfortable for the opponents get a chance to shine. Leolia Jeanjean is one of the most improved players of the season and will throw everything she has at the Spaniard. Even though she’s been playing well here, she’ll likely come up short.
Prediction: Sorribes Tormo in 2
Shuai Zhang vs Jasmine Paolini
Head-to-head: Zhang 3-0
This looks like the tie of the day, mostly as the seed is not guaranteed to come through at all. Shuai Zhang had a great grass campaign but went out to Aleksandra Krunic in Budapest last week with just one game won. She actually owns a sub-50 % win/loss record on clay across all levels of competition with her flatter strokes not penetrating the surface that well. The 33-year-old got the better of Jasmine Paolini in one dirt match though, in Prague four years ago. With the Italian in rather weak form of late, their match seems very unclear.
Prediction: Zhang in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
