Action continues on the hard courts of North America for this year’s summer swing before the US Open and Day 1 at the WTA 1000 in Montreal provides some mouthwatering matchups to look forward to. We also look at the rest of the day’s matches, split between two articles. One features Victoria Azarenka vs Magda Linette and the second features Daria Kasatkina vs Elise Mertens. Who do you think will advance?
WTA Montreal Day 1 Predictions
Lin Zhu vs Karolina Pliskova
Head2Head: 1-0 Pliskova
Karolina Pliskova seem back in the deep end of uneven form after parting ways with formal coach Sascha Bajin. Coming off a first-round loss to world No. 225 Natalia Stevanovic at Wimbledon, the former world No. 1 was dismissed by No. 204 ranked qualifier Hailey Baptiste in the first round in Washington, D.C. last week.
This is the first time she has lost multiple matches to players ranked outside the Top 200 in a season since 2013. Her season seem to have turned for the worse after a decent start to the year with quarterfinals appearances at the Australian Open and Dubai. The current run of bad results extend as far back as April, when the Czech made a run to the quarterfinal in Stuttgart.
Zhu Lin, like her opponent, has seen better form this season. She was beaten in the first round of Prague a week ago by Yanina Wickmayer, going down to the 93rd-ranked Belgian in three sets. She has now ended six of her last nine tournaments in the opening round itself, which is in stark contrast to her blazing start to the season.
The Chinese player won her maiden WTA title in Hua Hin, a semifinal in Monterey, a quarterfinal in Auckland, and a fourth round at the Australian Open. She rose as high as 33rd in the rankings, from 87th in January, and yet has registered back-to-back wins only once in the last five months.
Karolina Pliskova won the only time these two faced each other. She was pushed to a tiebreak in the second set but won their 2019 Wimbledon first-round clash in straight sets. The Czech defeated Aryna Sabalenka for a place in the final in her last visit to Montreal in 2021 and is 4-0 in opening rounds in this city.
Prediction: Pliskova in 3
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Jennifer Brady vs Jelena Ostapenko
Head2Head: 2-2
The last time these two met, it was nearly two years ago in Cincinnati and the match abruptly came to a close when Jennifer Brady came off injured after coming close to serving for the second set. Brady finally made her comeback after that injury only in the last couple of weeks, beating Anhelina Kalinina in the first round of Washington, D.C. and losing the following match to Madison Keys in straight sets.
Ostapenko has skipped a month of tennis after she lost to Sorana Cirstea in the second round of Wimbledon last month. Her mini break should have afforded her ample opportunity to rest and recharge and we expect her to come out firing on all cylinders here.
The Latvian comes here riding a poor record in Canadian tournaments with three first-round losses in six attempts, all three of which have come here in Montreal. Her opponent’s lack of match fitness should give her a good chance of nicking her first win here though and I expect her to do so without much of a fuss.
Prediction: Ostapenko in 2
Belinda Bencic vs Lucia Bronzetti
Head2Head: First meeting
Belinda Bencic looked out of sorts in her quarterfinals loss to Coco Gauff in Washington, D.C. last week, managing less than 50% of points on her first serve. The world No. 15 has had a solid season on the whole however and should be able to brush that defeat aside as she steps on court at one of her favorite hunting grounds. She won the title here in her debut in 2015 and made it to the quarterfinals last year.
Lucia Bronzetti is currently nursing a four match losing streak and her fortunes doesn’t look to be turning very soon with a first round clash against a Top 20 player on the cards for her. Three of those have come against outside-top-100 players–Erika Andreeva, Jaqueline Cristian, and Tamara Zidansek.
All the stats point to Belinda Bencic having a routine day at the office and unless something drastic happens here, I expect her to come away with the win.
Prediction: Bencic in 2
Venus Williams vs Madison Keys
Head2Head: 3-2 Madison Keys
Things have not been entirely rosy for Venus on court in recent years, she has struggled to match her best. She has only managed to register four wins in her last 20 matches since the start of the 2021 campaign. Despite not enjoying success, she has not been an easy target for her rivals. Four of Williams’ last five matches have gone the distance, showcasing her ability to match with the best albeit, not having the legs to get over the line.
In stark contrast to Williams’ form, Madison Keys is enjoying a resurgent 2023. The American has a 27-10 record, impressing across surfaces on hard and grass courts. She claimed the United Cup in January and Eastbourne International trophies during this run, while also reaching the quarterfinal stages in Dubai, Charleston, Washington, and Wimbledon. After initial struggles, she has set the record in her favor against Venus and will fancy her chances in this matchup.
Prediction: Keys in 3
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
