Main draw action at the inaugural WTA Merida Open in Mexico kicks off on Monday with a slew of first-round matches. As always, we here at LWOT have every match covered in our daily predictions, Elisabetta Cocciaretto vs Viktorija Golubic. But who will reach the second round?
WTA Merida Day 1 Predictions
Caty McNally vs Zhu Lin
Head-to-head: McNally 2-0 Zhu
Caty McNally finished 2022 with 15 wins from 18 matches. But surprisingly, she has struggled to get going in 2023. She hasn’t played since the Australian Open with no word so far about whether she was simply taking time to recharge after ending her season so late or if she had suffered an injury.
But in the the time that the American was away, Zhu Lin has risen up the rankings at an impressive rate after a highly-productive Australian summer. Zhu also bagged a second WTA title in Hua Hin. If the Chinese plays anything remotely close to the level she has displayed over the last month or so, she should be winning at a canter.
Prediction: Lin in 2
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Ana Konjuh vs Nuria Parrizas Diaz
Head-to-head: first meeting
It is becoming increasingly difficult to call Ana Konjuh’s matches. Her injury in Lyon at the start of the month is sadly just a microcosm of her career so far. Undoubtedly, she has the talent and the tenacity to compete at the top of the game. But the Croatian has gone through a series of setbacks with multiple injuries and that has cost her valuable time on the court, working out her best approach. Konjuh should be winning these duels quite comfortably, but if fitness continues to be an issue, this could be a chance for Nuria Parrizas Diaz – another late bloomer on Tour – to strike.
Prediction: Parrizas Diaz in 3
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Anna Bondar vs Kimberly Birrell
Head-to-head: first meeting
Kimberly Birrell has tallied nine wins from 10 matches in February. In that run, she won the W60 Orlando ITF tournament, beating former world #43 Rebecca Peterson 6-3 6-0 in the final, and reached the quarterfinals at the Irapuato ITF event in Mexico. She looked in good touch in qualifying for Merida as she defeated Elizabeth Mandlik and Varvara Gracheva. Anna Bondar has impressed more at Tour level this year, but she may have lost some rhythm in the two weeks she has spent away from the court. Expect the in-form Birrell to take this.
Prediction: Birrell in 3
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Camila Giorgi vs Mayar Sherif
Head-to-head: first meeting
Mayar Sherif comes into this match as the higher-ranked player. But there have not been any notable runs or wins this year to back up her one-time top 50 status and that has resulted in her falling to 53rd in the WTA rankings. Not exactly a disaster, but a concerning trend for the Egyptian all the same.
Camila Giorgi, meanwhile, reached the third round at the Australian Open but there have been few other noteworthy results for the hard-hitting Italian. On her most recent outing, she lost to Clara Tauson in Linz in a high-quality three-setter in the second round. Giorgi is hardly a byword for consistency, but she hits at impeccable length on hard courts when she is song. That should be enough to make her a sizable favourite here.
Prediction: Giorgi in 2
Main photo credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
