It’s a great WTA field at the 2023 Adelaide International and the best example of that is one of the first-round clashes. 2022 Wimbledon champion takes on the 2022 Australian Open runner-up as both Elena Rybakina and Danielle Collins will try to kick off their seasons with a great win. Who do you think will come out on top? We also look at the rest of the day’s matches in a separate article.
WTA Adelaide Day 2 Predictions
Daria Kasatkina vs Linda Noskova
Head-to-head: First meeting
Linda Noskova was brilliant in her qualifying campaign, dispatching Anna Kalinskaya (saved a match point) and Anastasia Potapova. Especially her backhand has been firing and allowing her to control the rallies against some very tough opposition. This is a step up again, but it’s not like the 2021 Roland Garros girls’ singles champion is drawing dead here. An upset feels possible as Daria Kasatkina is not exactly one of these top players that blow you off the court.
Prediction: Noskova in 3
Jaimee Fourlis vs Marta Kostyuk
Head-to-head: First meeting
Marta Kostyuk has all the ingredients to get her game to an even higher level, but her career seems to have stagnated a bit. The 20-year-old is still a WTA Tour regular though and has already beaten two quality opponents to get through the qualifying draw here. Jaimee Fourlis had a great rise through the ITF circuit last year, but has generally lacked a bit when facing rivals from the top of the game. This will be another tough hill to climb for the Australian.
Prediction: Kostyuk in 2
Elena Rybakina vs Danielle Collins
Head-to-head: Collins 1-0
An example of how brutal WTA 500 draws can be. Both ladies made a Grand Slam final in 2022, but they’re facing each other in the opening round here. Elena Rybakina was the best player of the recent exhibition World Tennis League, beating three WTA Finals semifinalists (Aryna Sabalenka, Caroline Garcia, Iga Swiatek). Does that mean much looking forward to this clash? It might, as the Kazakh was really on fire in these battles. Otherwise, it’s pretty hard to separate them.
Prediction: Rybakina in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
