The WTA Tour returns to Japan in what is a very solid field for a 250-level event in Tokyo. Naomi Osaka leads the names of Day 2 competitors as the Japanese native takes on Daria Saville on her home soil. As always, we at LWOT have the predictions for that match as well as the other four matches around the grounds of Tokyo. But who will advance?
WTA Tokyo Day 2 Predictions
Karolina Pliskova vs Isabella Shinikova
Head-to-Head: first meeting
30-year-old Karolina Pliskova is looking to back up her run to the US Open quarterfinals with a strong close to the 2022 season. The former world No. 1 is 10-4 on hard courts this summer and seems to be playing with some newfound confidence. Her opponent, Isabella Shinikova, worked her way through two rounds of qualifying to set up this first-round bout. I believe Shinikova’s groundstroke inconsistencies will show against the rock-solid Pliskova. I see her having a very strong week in Tokyo.
Prediction: Pliskova in 2
Sofia Kenin vs Fernanda Contreras Gomez
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Former world No. 4 Sofia Kenin has dropped all the way down to her current ranking of #315. The 23-year-old American holds a 4-11 record this season and did not pick up a win in nine of the 11 tournaments she has competed in. Her opponent, Fernanda Contreras Gomez, has mostly done her 2022 work at the ITF level. She won two, three-set qualifying matches to enter this main draw. I mentioned Kenin’s struggles, but she has not lost to a player ranked as low as Contreras Gomez since the fall of 2018. Kenin may not be anywhere close to her top form, but she should jump at this opportunity to get her fifth win of the season.
Prediction: Kenin in 2
Shuai Zhang vs Mai Hontama
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Veteran Shuai Zhang matches up with the up-and-coming Mai Hontama in Round 1 in Tokyo. Zhang made a terrific run to the round of 16 at the US Open and holds a ranking of world No.28. She is 8-3 in her last 11 hard court matches. The 23-year-old Hontama received a wildcard entrant into this field and is looking to make the most of her fourth tour-level tournament of the season. She has had a lot of success a the ITF level and is looking to translate that to the tour, Unfortunately for Hontama, I believe Zhang’s current form will be too tough to handle for the young Japanese native.
Prediction: Zhang in 3
Beatriz Haddad Maia vs Yuki Naito
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia has been one of the surprises of the season. The lefty holds a record of 32-18 while achieving a career high ranking of world No. 15 less than a month ago. She matches up with Japanese wildcard Yuki Naito in round one in Tokyo. Naito is a 21-year-old with very limited tour-level experience. She holds a career tour-level record of 2-5. Although the aforementioned Haddad Maia is having the best season of her career, she still has been prone to inconsistencies on the court. With that said, I do not see Naito possessing any weapon to be able to harm the Brazilian.
Prediction: Haddad Maia in 2
Naomi Osaka vs Daria Saville
Head-to-Head: Saville 1-0 Osaka
Naomi Osaka is looking to break a four-match losing streak and regain some form on home soil as she begins her campaign in Tokyo. Her Round 1 opponent is Australian Daria Saville. Saville holds the 1-0 head-to-head record over Osaka, besting her in the second round of qualifying in Cincinnati back in 2016. Both players have mightily different games compared to that meeting and should show that in this match. Saville has been a strong hard-court player this season, but she will not be able to match Osaka if the 24-year-old is at her best. I think the boost of playing in her home country will do wonders for the former World No. 1.
Prediction: Osaka in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
