Expect an entertaining start to the WTA Adelaide International with both first round and qualifying action on the schedule in the South Australian capital. The highlight of the day will surely be the clash of two former Grand Slam champions and, as ever, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for both main draw matches. But who will reach the second round?
WTA Adelaide Day 1 Predictions
Anastasia Potapova vs Linda Noskova (Qualifying)
Head-to-head: first meeting
Linda Noskova looks to be one for the future. The 18-year-old has already broken into the top 100 (she is currently ranked 102nd) and although much of her success has come at ITF and WTA 125k level, her forays onto the main tour have been largely encouraging. She got her 2023 season off to a winning start by beating eighth seed Anna Kalinskaya in a third-set tiebreak and will surely have high hopes of getting the better of Kalinskaya’s compatriot too.
That said, Potapova is the favourite coming into this match. The 21-year-old is ranked nearly 60 places above Noskova and put together an impressive campaign in 2022, highlighted by her triumph in Istanbul. She also demolished Taylor Townsend for the loss of only one game in the first round of qualifying. Townsend can be rather boom-or-bust and this will probably be more competitive, but Potapova should have the edge all the same.
Prediction: Potapova in 2
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Garbine Muguruza vs Bianca Andreescu
Head-to-head: Andreescu 2-0 Muguruza
In 2019, when this pair met in the quarterfinals in Indian Wells, Bianca Andreescu announced her arrival as a force to be reckoned with by hammering Muguruza 6-0 6-1. They renewed their rivalry two years later, with Muguruza rather more competitive but still unsuccessful as Andreescu dug out a 3-6 6-3 6-2 win over the Spaniard. They will meet for the third time in rather more humble surroundings, with neither having quite fulfilled their potential.
Injuries have played a significant role in that, particularly for Andreescu, and the Canadian will be hoping to stay healthy in 2023. If she can, she could do some real damage. At any rate, this is clearly a matchup she enjoys. Muguruza excels at taking the racquet out of her opponent’s hands with powerful groundstrokes, particularly down the line, but she thrives on rhythm and Andreescu will deny her that. Expect Andreescu to make it three from three at Muguruza’s expense.
Prediction: Andreescu in 3
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Kaia Kanepi vs Aliaksandra Sasnovich
Head-to-head: Sasnovich 1-0 Kanepi
Kaia Kanepi may have already celebrated her 37th birthday, but the Estonian shows no signs of slowing down. Ranked 32nd in the world, there will doubtless be many higher-ranked players glad that they will not have to face her before the third round at the Australian Open. She may not be one of the more consistent players on the WTA Tour, but her willingness to take big cuts at the ball and her ability to redline ensure she is often a very difficult opponent to face.
Aliaksandra Sasnovich, however, has caused some upsets herself over the years and leads this pair’s head-to-head, having won their only previous meeting, albeit nearly eight years ago in Marseille. On paper, there is not much between them, but Kanepi does have a better recent record in Australian conditions and reached the last eight at Melbourne Park last season. She should have just about enough to win this intriguing first-round matchup at the WTA Adelaide International.
Prediction: Kanepi in 3
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