Five singles matches are scheduled for Tuesday at the 2022 WTA Ostrava Open. That includes a couple of absolute blockbusters: Belinda Bencic against Eugenie Bouchard, plus Emma Raducanu taking on Daria Kasatkina. The first one is a great chance for the Canadian to prove she means business in her comeback, the latter could be the match of the round. Who do you think will prevail?
WTA Ostrava Day 2 Predictions
Anna Blinkova vs Caty McNally
Head-to-head: First meeting
Both qualifiers didn’t drop a set in their first two matches here. This looks like a toss-up as both women are comfortable indoors and have no matchup history between them. Caty McNally’s all-court game carries a lot more risk with it, but if she executes it right, the courts in Ostrava could help her gain a slight edge.
Prediction: McNally in 3
Alycia Parks vs Karolina Pliskova
Head-to-head: First meeting
Alycia Parks qualified with a couple of solid wins, taking advantage of her massive first serve. The second can leak double faults though and she’ll need to be careful with them against Karolina Pliskova. The Czech had a rough beginning of the season, but it seems like she’s already picked her game up enough to start winning matches like this very consistently.
Prediction: Pliskova in 2
Jelena Ostapenko vs Aliaksandra Sasnovich
Head-to-head: Ostapenko 4-0
It’s a very lopsided head-to-head, but three of their matches went deciding sets (including both they contested indoors). Jelena Ostapenko definitely has the higher ceiling, but it’s not like Aliaksandra Sasnovich doesn’t hit the ball hard. She also has a lot more of a middle ground in her game. This should be a close one and perhaps the Belarusian can finally get a win against Ostapenko.
Prediction: Sasnovich in 3
Belinda Bencic vs Eugenie Bouchard
Head-to-head: Bencic 2-0
Eugenie Bouchard scored a few nice wins since her comeback already, including two in the qualifying here (over Oceane Dodin and Dalma Galfi). The rise in the quality of the competition will be very steep though. Belinda Bencic is usually a force indoors with her flat hitting and is coming off a great couple of performances in Tallinn last week, where she made the semifinals.
Prediction: Bencic in 2
Emma Raducanu vs Daria Kasatkina
Head-to-head: First meeting
This could be the match of the round. Emma Raducanu is picking up wins pretty consistently of late, but she was forced to retire against Jelena Ostapenko in the semifinals at Seoul. Her fitness continues to be an issue, but on a pretty fast indoor court she’s got every chance to trouble Daria Kasatkina. The Brit’s game is a lot more explosive, especially is she can play first-strike tennis both on serve and return.
Prediction: Raducanu in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
