Main draw action commences on Monday at the WTA Chennai Open. A new addition to the WTA calendar in 2022, the tournament marks first time the tour has landed in India since 2008. Valuable ranking points will be on offer to lower ranked players as only five top 100 players have ventured to India this week. But who will advance on day one?
WTA Chennai Day 1 Predictions
Jana Fett vs Nao Hibino
Head-to-head: Fett 1-0 Hibino
Jana Fett and Nao Hibino each safely navigated their way through the qualifying draw in Chennai. A winnable matchup for both players, a rare chance to win a main draw match at this level. I’d give the slight edge to Hibino. The Japanese player has a steadier game is generally the more consistent of the two.
Prediction: Hibino in 3
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Liang En-shuo vs Linda Fruhvirtova
Head-to-head: first meeting
Linda Fruhvirtova gained some valuable experience at the US Open last week. The 17-year-old successfully qualified for the main draw where she defeated Wang Xinyu before succumbing to former-world #1 Garbine Muguruza in straight sets. Liang En-Shuo, meanwhile, has been struggling at the ITF level and looks to be in danger of being outclassed in this matchup despite being used to the conditions having cruised through the qualifying draw in Chennai.
Prediction: L. Fruhvirtova in 2
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Wang Qiang vs Yanina Wickmayer
Head-to-head: first meeting
2022 has been a major disappointment for Wang Qiang and that continued at the US Open where she lost in the second round of qualifying. Still, the sixth seed has a chance to salvage something from her season this week in Chennai. Even out of form. she should fancy her chances against anyone in the draw. Yanina Wickmayer has had some decent results in her return to the tour in 2022 but has struggled in main draw matches at the tour level. This is a match Wang should be winning, she is far more solid in most departments.
Prediction: Wang in 2
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Eugenie Bouchard vs Joanna Zuger
Head-to-head: first meeting
Eugenie Bouchard accepted a main draw wild card this week in Chennai. The Canadian will be playing her first main draw match at a regular WTA event since Monterrey early last year. Bouchard faces an inexperienced opponent; Joanna Zuger has been toiling away on the ITF tour and has had some decent results on clay, but the Swiss hasn’t played a great deal of tennis on hard courts. Even so, it’s hard to pick Bouchard with any confidence right now, we don’t know where her game is at. Zuger has beaten Gasanova, Niemeier and Zavatska in recent times, suggesting she has the level to beat a rusty Bouchard.
Prediction: Zuger in 2
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