The WTA grass season continues with a stop in Birmingham, Great Britain, for the 2023 Rothesay Classic. This 32-woman draw has welcomed some terrific players to its grounds looking to gain some form ahead of the third Slam of the season. We have an intriguing all-Brit Round 1 battle in Birmingham between Harriet Dart and Jodie Burrage. We at LWOT have the preview and prediction for that match and all other happenings around Birmingham. We split the day’s other matches between two articles, featuring Jelena Ostapenko vs Linda Noskova and Barbora Krejcikova vs Cristina Bucsa. But who will advance?
WTA Birmingham Day 2 Predictions
Anastasia Potapova vs Marta Kostyuk
Head-to-Head: Potapova 1-0 Kostyuk
Anastasia Potapova and Marta Kostyuk will square off for the second time this season after Potapova dominated Kostyuk 6-1 6-3 in Miami. The 22-year-old Russian is up to a career-high ranking of world No. 21 and has all the tools to have a successful grass-court season. Kostyuk, on the other hand, limps into this match having won just one of her last five matches. The 20-year-old Ukrainian has shown a proclivity to the grass but will have to find some form early in this match. We saw Potapova dominate this matchup three months ago, and I do not think the surface change does any favors for Kostyuk.
Prediction: Potapova in 2
Shuai Zhang vs Emina Bektas
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Veterans Shuai Zhang and Emina Bektas will square off for the first time in Birmingham. Zhang, the No. 7 seed at this event, is 0-9 since February. She has won just two sets in those nine losses. World No. 150 Bektas should feel confident after advancing through two rounds of qualifying without dropping a set. The 30-year-old American is 11-1 on the grass this season and reached the quarterfinals in Den Bosch last week. Her current form, paired with her grass-court advantage, should allow her to roll past Zhang.
Prediction: Bektas in 2
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Harriet Dart vs Jodie Burrage
Head-to-Head: Dart 2-0 Burrage
Countrywomen Harriet Dart and Jodie Burrage are both coming off strong runs in Nottingham and will look to translate that success one hour southwest in Birmingham. Both women have shown a proclivity to the grass and should bring their best tennis for the home fans on Tuesday. Stylistically, I like the way Burrage matches up with Dart. She played with controlled aggression in Nottingham and has the confidence to let it rip from the baseline. Because of this, I give her a slight edge in what should be a three-set encounter.
Prediction: Burrage in 3
Main Photo Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
