As usual, the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart is one of the most stacked WTA 500 events on the calendar. When matchups are Paula Badosa vs Daria Kasatkina and Jelena Ostapenko vs Emma Raducanu are taking place on Tuesday, you know the tournament will be full of excitement. Who do you think will progress to the second round? We also look at the rest of the day’s matches in a separate article.
WTA Stuttgart Day 2 Predictions
Petra Martic vs Anastasia Potapova
Head-to-head: Potapova 2-1
These two have already met in 2023 as Anastasia Potapova beat Petra Martic in the final at Linz. The Russian looks like she’s one big tournament away from breaking through towards the top echelon of the game. Besides the aggressive shotmaking, she also has the ability to play from behind which makes her a lot more well-balanced than some of her peers. Petra Martic will try to take her down with her wide repertoire of skills, but Potapova will not make it easy for her.
Prediction: Potapova in 3
Daria Kasatkina vs Paula Badosa
Head-to-head: Kasatkina 2-1
Paula Badosa has been a little unlucky with her draws since she returned from the injury that forced her to skip the Australian Open. During the Sunshine Double, she ran into Elena Rybakina very early in both events. If she keeps playing at this level though, the big wins will come. She was already very close in Charleston, losing to Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals. Especially on the quicker clay in Stuttgart, she’s probably the favorite over Daria Kasatkina right now.
Prediction: Badosa in 2
Jelena Ostapenko vs Emma Raducanu
Head-to-head: Ostapenko 1-0
The first round of the tournament and already a matchup between two Slam champions. On paper, Jelena Ostapenko should enjoy the conditions in Stuttgart, but she’s never done that well at this event. Emma Raducanu has only played it once, putting in a very decent effort against Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals last year. Who takes this one? It feels like anyone’s guess. The Brit is sort of due a good result after showing some glimpses of her peak form in 2022 already.
Prediction: Raducanu in 3
Main Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports