Day 2 at the WTA Adelaide International 2 will feature some heavyweight contests, including Anett Kontaveit’s second career meeting against Paula Badosa. We also have predictions for the other four matches on Tuesday in a separate article. Who will book their spots in the second round?
WTA Adelaide 2 Day 2 Predictions
Amanda Anisimova vs Liudmila Samsonova
Head-to-head: first meeting
Samsonova lost a high-quality battle against Sabalenka last week and I think her level might give her an outside chance of plotting her best run at the Australian Open. Anisimova, meanwhile, marked her return to action for the first time since suffering a broken toe at last year’s US Open. But it wasn’t a fruitful return as she lost 6-3 6-0 to Kudermetova in Adelaide 1. She also lost in the qualifying rounds in Adelaide 2, and only got here as a lucky loser. At this time last year, she bagged a title at the Melbourne Summer Set and went on to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open. Right now, I highly doubt she can attain either of those targets.
Prediction: Samsonova in 3
Jelena Ostapenko vs Anna Kalinskaya
Head-to-head: first meeting
Ostapenko hasn’t had a great start to the year losing quite heavily to Irina-Camelia Begu last week. The Latvian is a big name on the women’s tour, but it almost feels like she is battling a few mental hiccups in her matches. Kalinskaya has been playing well for quite a while now. She might be due for a statement win here.
Prediction: Kalinskaya in 2
Kaia Kanepi vs Storm Hunter
Head-to-head: first meeting
Storm Hunter is currently outside the world’s Top 200, but she is playing on home turf. Last year, she threatened a big upset by taking a set off Aryna Sabalenka in the first round of the Australian Open. So despite what the odds suggest and Kanepi’s status as the overwhelming favorite, the Aussie wildcard could pinch this. But we still think the Estonian’s power and experience might give her the edge.
Prediction: Kanepi in 3
Anett Kontaveit vs Paula Badosa
Head-to-head: Kontaveit 1-0 Badosa
Spain was touted as one of the favorites to win the United Cup but had a really disappointing campaign, finishing bottom of their group. A lot of that had to do with the form of Rafael Nadal and Paula Badosa, their number-one-ranked players. In Badosa’s case, she played one singles match which she won but was cramping for a set and a half against Harriet Dart. I wouldn’t read too much into that performance, but there can be no denying she is not firing on all cylinders right now. Her appalling run of form in the second half of last season meant that she could not cling to her Top-10 ranking.
Kontaveit hasn’t fared any better either. Six months ago she was world #2, but is currently outside the Top 10. The Estonian opened up about her struggles with Covid-19 last summer and although she did find her rhythm in a couple of tournaments in the second half of the season, it was highly unlikely she would defend her points from that electric run in 2021. Still, I will give the Estonian that tiny bit of edge in this match. She is in better shape than her opponent and has beaten Badosa before.
Prediction: Kontaveit in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
