It should be an entertaining start to the final WTA 1000 event of the season with 12 intriguing first-round matches on the schedule in Mexico. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the slate at the WTA Guadalajara Open, including Bianca Andreescu vs Jil Teichmann and Belinda Bencic vs Leylah Fernandez. But who will reach the second round?
WTA Guadalajara Day 1 Predictions
Victoria Azarenka vs Zhang Shuai
Head-to-head: Azarenka 3-0 Zhang
Victoria Azarenka will surely come into this match with real confidence, having soundly beaten Zhang Shuai in all three of their previous meetings, including last year in Chicago for the loss of only three games. It has been a stop-start season for the Belarusian, but she has been in solid enough form in recent weeks, making the last eight in Washington and the fourth round at the US Open. Zhang, in contrast, has rather lost her way since an impressive semifinal showing in Tokyo, winning just one of her last four matches. Clearly this is not a matchup she enjoys and Azarenka should have the edge once again.
Prediction: Azarenka in 2
Embed from Getty Images
Ann Li vs Rebecca Marino
Head-to-head: first meeting
This has the makings of an interesting match, even if it is not one of the more star-powered clashes on day one at the WTA Guadalajara Open. There has not been a great deal for either to celebrate of late, with Ann Li suffering a string of first-round losses whilst Rebecca Marino’s results have not been a great deal more impressive. The Canadian will have the advantage of having come through the qualifying, however, with hard-fought wins over Sachia Vickery and Elvina Kalieva. In what looks likely to be a close contest, that might just prove to be the difference.
Prediction: Marino in 3
Embed from Getty Images
Bernarda Pera vs Petra Kvitova
Head-to-head: Kvitova 1-0 Pera
If this match proves to be a repeat of their recent meeting in Ostrava, the fans in Guadalajara will be in for a very competitive encounter. Petra Kvitova just about had the edge that day, beating Bernarda Pera in three sets in front of a partisan Czech crowd, a win she backed up against second seed Paula Badosa in the second round. She has been out action since, but Pera elected to enter the qualifying in San Diego where she lost in the second round. That loss, along with her defeat at Kvitova’s hands less than two weeks ago, does not inspire massive confidence in her chances here.
Prediction: Kvitova in 3
Embed from Getty Images
Sloane Stephens vs Linda Fruhvirtova
Head-to-head: first meeting
Rather unsurprisingly, this will be the first meeting between Sloane Stephens and Linda Fruhvirtova. There is a considerable gulf in experience between the pair, but a relatively small one in the rankings with the 29-year-old American ranked 52nd in the world and the 17-year-old Fruhvirtova the current world #76. Fruhvirtova’s relatively lofty ranking demonstrates that despite her youth, she can compete at this level and she looked sharp in coming through the qualifying with wins over Nadiia Kichenok and Elina Avanesyan. Stephens will present a much sterner test, but if Fruhvirtova plays her best tennis it is one she is good enough to pass.
Prediction: Fruhvirtova in 3
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
