After a chaotic first week of the grass-court season now comes the bigger week two with two ATP 500s and a WTA 500 in Berlin. WTA Birmingham is the only 250 but still attracts an exciting and competitive field. As always, we here at LWOT will preview and predict every match. Who do you think will win?
WTA Birmingham Day 1 Predictions
Marie Bouzkova vs Bernarda Pera
Head-to-head: first meeting
World No. 33 facing off with No. 27 in a first-round match. Pera is a clay-court specialist for the most part, winning just one tour-level grass match against Katie Swan at Nottingham 2019. Bouzkova’s year has been largely disappointing, 11-14 record in 2023. The Czech’s prospects on grass are much better though, reaching the Wimbledon quarterfinals last season. Bouzkova is a solid favorite here.
Prediction: Bouzkova in 2
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Anhelina Kalinina vs Alycia Parks
Head-to-head: Kalinina 2-0 Parks
Since her breakout run to the Rome final was ended by injury, Kalinina took a first-round loss at the French Open and a second-round loss to Harriet Dart in Nottingham. The Ukrainian is definitely most comfortable on clay, an Eastbourne quarterfinal being her best career result on grass. Parks has looked borderline unbeatable at points on indoor hard but has rarely been able to show that brilliance outside of those conditions. Parks’ game has massive potential on grass but a first-round loss to Zhu Lin last week in Nottingham did not add confidence that we will see it this year. Kalinina has beaten Parks twice but on grass, this could truly go either way.
Prediction: Parks in 3
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Venus Williams vs Camila Giorgi
Head-to-head: Williams 2-0 Giorgi
In her first match since Auckland, Venus Williams lost a tight contest to 17-year-old Celine Naef in Den Bosch last week, with the young Dutchwoman breaking into the Top 200 with a quarterfinal run. Giorgi beat Madison Brengle and lost to Elizabeth Mandlik last week in Nottingham. It would be great to see Williams win tour-level matches at 43 but it feels increasingly less likely.
Prediction: Giorgi in 2
Main Photo Credit: Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports
