After a Day 1 in Austin that included the upset of Alycia Parks, the tournament goes full pelt with 11 first-round matches on Day 2, with the likes of Magda Linette, Danielle Collins, or Sloane Stephens playing their openers. As always, we here at LWOT will preview and predict every match. Who do you think will win?
WTA Austin Day 2 Predictions
Danielle Collins vs Magdalena Frech
Head-to-head: Collins 2-0 Frech
After shoulder issues toward the end of last season, Collins has struggled to replicate her past success in 2023, 5-6 on the year, though against tough opposition. Last time out, the American took a 3-6 4-6 loss to Linda Fruhvirtova, the lowest-ranked player to beat her so far. Frech is 3-6 on the year though, all of her matches coming in qualifying this season and she did not succeed in reaching a main draw so far in 2023. Collins’ level should be high enough to dispatch the Pole, though Frech pushed her all the way at the BJK Cup Finals last season.
Prediction: Collins in 2
Robin Montgomery vs Coco Vandeweghe
Head-to-head: first meeting
Battle of the generations here as 31-year-old Vandeweghe comes up against the 18-year-old Montgomery. The teen reached the final of an ITF 25 in Orlando earlier this year before qualifying here, beating Jodie Burrage and Elvina Kalieva. Vandeweghe failed to qualify, losing to Louisa Chirico in a third-set tiebreak but will get her main draw shot after Emma Raducanu’s withdrawal. It’s a tough match to call but I will go with Montgomery here.
Prediction: Montgomery in 3
Magda Linette vs Varvara Gracheva
Head-to-head: Linette 1-0 Gracheva
Linette is playing in her second tournament since her Australian Open semifinal run, bowing out in the quarterfinals of Merida to Rebecca Peterson last week. Gracheva got in as a lucky loser in Merida last week and took advantage, beating Tatjana Maria and pushing Sloane Stephens all the way to a third-set tiebreak. Linette should be winning matches like this if she wishes to maintain her Top 20 ranking but Gracheva’s Merida level could suggest an upset.
Prediction: Linette in 3
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
