Main draw action commences on Monday, Day 1 at the WTA Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic in San Jose, the traditional start to the US Open series. Karolina Pliskova and Madison Keys are a pair of notable names kick-starting their campaigns on Day 1. Each face oppositions they have struggled with in the past. Pliskova faces Katie Boulter, an opponent that has beaten her twice in the last few months. Whilst Keys faces Shuai Zhang, an opponent she has lost four consecutive matches against. Can either player break their respective losing streaks? We also predict the rest of the day’s matches in a separate article.
WTA San Jose Day 1 Predictions
Karolina Pliskova vs Katie Boulter
H2H: Boulter 2-1.
This has been a surprisingly frustrating matchup for Karolina Pliskova in 2022. Katie Boulter has already beaten the Czech twice this year, coming from a set down on each occasion. Boulter defeated Pliskova 3-6 7-6 6-4 at Wimbledon in their most recent match. Pliskova should be especially keen to avoid a third consecutive loss to Boulter. I suspect Pliskova will play sharp enough to get the win on this occasion.
Prediction: Pliskova in 3
Alison Riske vs Elizabeth Mandlik
H2H: First meeting.
Elizabeth Mandlik caused the biggest upset of the tournament so far when she defeated the top seeded Jil Teichmann in the final round of qualifying, a 3-6 6-3 6-0 win for the 21-year-old American, the biggest of her career. Mandlik’s reward is a meeting with Riske-Amritraj during Monday’s evening session on the Stadium court. Riske has had some impressive results in 2022 and should be too solid and too experienced for Mandlik on this occasion. Expect the veteran to win this quite comfortably.
Prediction: Riske in 2
Shuai Zhang vs Madison Keys
H2H: Zhang 5-2.
Shuai Zhang’s dominant 5-2 head-to-head record over Madison Keys is a puzzling one. Zhang has won the last four matches between the pair but will still head into this match as the outsider. Zhang beat Keys 7-5 7-6 in San Jose last year in their most recent clash. Keys’ form has tailed off ever since a hot start to the season which culminated in a run to the semifinals at the Australian Open. I’ll give Keys the benefit of the doubt here, she will undoubtedly be keen to avoid another loss to Zhang, five losses in a row to a player of Zhang’s quality would be embarrassing for Keys.
Prediction: Keys in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
