First-round action continues on Day 2 at the WTA 500 level Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic in San Jose. This tournament has welcomed some of the best players in the world for a hard-court tune-up a little less than a month before the US Open kicks off. Coco Gauff is looking to continue her strong 2022 season and add her first title of the year on home soil. Will she pull through in her round one match against Anhelina Kalinina? We also predict the rest of the day’s matches in a separate article.
WTA San Jose Day 2 Predictions
Camila Giorgi vs Veronika Kudermetova
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Camila Giorgi and Veronika Kudermetova square off in a very highly anticipated first-round matchup in San Jose. Both players currently sit inside the World’s top 30. Kudermetova is the better hard-court player, holding a 13-6 record on the surface this season. With that said, she has not played a regulated match in nearly six weeks. On the other side of the net, Giorgi is looking to expand on a strong grass-court season. I do think the time off could play a factor for Kudermetova, but I believe her pure ball striking will be too much for the Italian to handle.
Prediction: Kudermetova in 3
Bianca Andreescu vs Shelby Rogers
Head-to-Head: Rogers 1-0 Andreescu
Bianca Andreescu and Shelby Rogers meet up in round one with the victor staring at a matchup with #1 seed Maria Sakkari. After an early career filled with hard-court success, this will be the first match of the season for Andreescu on the surface. Someone with her talent and ball-striking capabilities should adjust well. Rogers has proven to be a competent hard-court player and did best Andreescu nearly a year ago on the hard courts of Chicago. With that said, she does not have nearly the pedigree as the Canadian. I foresee this match going the distance, with Andreescu finding a way to win.
Prediction: Andreescu in 3
Coco Gauff vs Anhelina Kalinina
Head-to-Head: first meeting
18-year-old American Coco Gauff is having a wonderful season. Currently ranked 11th in the World, she holds a 25-13 record this season while having reached the final at Roland Garros. She is poised to have a strong lead-up to New York. Her round one opponent is Anehlina Kalinina. As the current World #52, the Ukrainian is a tough first-round draw. With that said, Kalinina is a much stronger clay-court player and can struggle with the speed of the hard court. I expect Gauff to come out attacking and aggressive while finding a way to win in straight sets.
Prediction: Gauff in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
