With the build up to the Australian Open underway, we take a look at some of the Day 1 matchups in Adelaide 2. Interesting first day draws have thrown up some tasty matches and Last Word on Tennis shares our predictions for the matches. We also look at the rest of the day’s matches in a separate article.
WTA Adelaide 2 Day 1 Predictions
Beatriz Haddad Maia vs Sorana Cirstea
The fourth meeting in singles between these players, although the last three times they played singles against each other were back in 2016. They have teamed up together for doubles though, including at the Australian Open in 2018 where they made the third round together. Sorana Cirstea has had to come through qualifying for this week, despite making the second round in Adelaide last week, where she made the second round before losing to Ons Jabeur the top seed.
Beatriz Haddad Maia is a direct entrant and playing her first event since the WTA Finals, where she was in doubles action with Anna Danilina. Haddad Maia didn’t make it out of the group stage at the end of season event. Her last singles event saw her lose in the first round, despite being seeded. Qualifiers are always dangerous in the first round, and the Romanian opponent has the advantage of a 3-0 head to head.
Prediction: Cirstea in 2
Garbine Muguruza vs Belinda Bencic
Belinda Bencic is seeded and will go into this match as the favorite, even though she has not played since October, where the Swiss lost in the second round to unseeded American Sloan Stephens. Bencic does hold a slight head to head advantage.
Opponent Garbine Muguruza did not have a great end to the season having to retire in her first round match at San Diego. Following a full off season, the Spaniard made an early arrival in Australia and took part in Adelaide last week. However, Muguruza lost in the first round, so will be desperate to improve and kick start the season.
Prediction: Bencic in 3
Petra Kvitova vs Elena Rybakina
The first meeting of the season between these two, and only the second time they have played each other. Last time was in the quarter-final of Ostrava Open where Rybakina took the match in straight sets. Although it was a close run match. Having a tiebreak in the first set, which the Kazakh edged, and the second set was just one break of serve. Kvitova will want to get her season off and running. The 32-year-old last played in October, when her ranking was #16.
Elena Rybakina, on the other hand played Adelaide last week, making the second round. The Kazakh will be eager to progress beyond that stage, and build up to the Australian Open. With points dropping off from last year as Rybakina made the final of Adelaide 1 last season, before having to retire in the second round of Sydney and the Australian Open. Rybakina will want to kick start her season and have a better start than last season.
Prediction: Kvitova in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
