After two days off from both tours, Indian Wells will kick off with the unseeded players on Wednesday. There are still plenty of exciting players despite the lack of seeds on Day 1 of WTA Indian Wells, such as Linda Noskova, Linda Fruhvirtova, or Alycia Parks. As always, we here at LWOT will preview and predict every match. Who do you think will win at WTA Indian Wells?
WTA Indian Wells Day 1 Predictions
Lin Zhu vs Lesia Tsurenko
Head-to-head: Zhu 1-1 Tsurenko
Rematch of the Hua Hin final from last month in the first round here after Tsurenko’s successful qualifying campaign. The 2015 Indian Wells quarterfinalist got tough wins over Taylor Townsend and Katie Boulter to get through, continuing her strong form this season with a 16-4 record. The Ukrainian veteran has a 100% success rate in qualifying across four events this season and reached her sixth WTA final in Hua Hin. Zhu is 13-5 on the year and rocketing up the rankings, currently at career-high No. 33. The Hua Hin title was the 29-year-old’s second and she also beat Maria Sakkari to reach the fourth round at the Australian Open and made a run to the semifinals in Monterrey. Tsurenko could trouble Zhu here but I expect the Chinese player to pull through
Prediction: Zhu in 3
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Camila Giorgi vs Arantxa Rus
Head-to-head: Rus 2-1 Giorgi
More than 13 years after their first two meetings at French ITFs (both won by Rus), Giorgi and Rus meet once more. The Italian’s win came in their most recent meeting in 2021, when she allowed Rus just two games in Tenerife quarterfinals. Giorgi got her fourth career title in Merida at the end of last month, a run that included a 6-0 6-0 win over Sloane Stephens. Rus made the final of an ITF 60 in Arcadia last week, withdrawing before facing Sara Errani whom she would meet in Indian Wells qualifying. The 32-year-old first eliminated Diana Shnaider before taking out the Italian veteran. The slower conditions suit Rus and I expect a messy match with many ups and downs but Giorgi emerging as the winner.
Prediction: Giorgi in 3
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Jil Teichmann vs Ashlyn Krueger
Head-to-head: first meeting
It’s been a tricky year for Teichmann so far, failing to get past the second round of any tournament so far. Most recently, the Swiss lost to Elena-Gabriela Ruse in Doha qualifying and Lauren Davis in the first round of Dubai. Krueger is 14-6 on the year, mostly due to two ITF 60 semifinal runs in February. The American is still waiting for a signature win and after strong straight-set wins over Laura Pigossi and Magdalena Frech, this might be her time.
Prediction: Krueger in 2
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Marta Kostyuk vs Rebecca Peterson
Head-to-head: first meeting
Kostyuk is coming off of winning her first WTA title in Austin last week, beating Danielle Collins in the semifinals and defeating Varvara Gracheva in the final. The Ukrainian has been playing solid tennis throughout the year, beating Elena Rybakina in Adelaide before she went on to reach the Australian Open final, reaching the quarterfinals in Hua Hin and pushing Belinda Bencic all the way in Dubai. Peterson has also been in brilliant form, first reaching the final of an ITF 60 in Orlando before she made the final in Merida as a qualifier, including a win over Magda Linette. The Swede qualified with wins over Simona Waltert and Caroline Dolehide and I expect her to push Kostyuk here.
Prediction: Kostyuk in 3
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
