The WTA 1000 event this week in Cincinnati promises plenty of excitement with top players both aiming for a big title and looking to fine-tune their games ahead of the last Grand Slam of the season in New York. Last week in Canada, Jessica Pegula won the title in perhaps surprising fashion and the top three players will be looking to strike back here. Caroline Wozniacki will also continue her comeback and feature in the Day 1 of the event in what is surely the most anticipated match of the day against Elina Svitolina. We look at the rest of the day’s matches in two separate articles–one features Sloane Stephens vs Elisabetta Cocciaretto and the other features Venus Williams vs Veronika Kudermetova.
WTA Cincinnati Day 1 Predictions
Jasmine Paolini vs Marta Kostyuk
Head-to-head: Paolini 1-1 Kostyuk
The pair faced last year at this venue, albeit in qualifying, and Kostyuk won in relatively easy fashion, 6-2 6-2. This time around it should be a much closer affair as the difference between the two players isn’t really that big, but Kostyuk certainly should have the edge.
Prediction: Kostyuk in 3
Qinwen Zheng vs Aliaksandra Sasnovich
Head-to-head: Zheng 1-0 Sasnovich
Their only previous meeting was a nail-biting third set tiebreak affair at the Australian Open in 2022, with Zheng prevailing. Zheng is clearly the better player overall and should have the edge here even if her recent form is certainly far from inspiring.
Prediction: Zheng in 3
[cta id=591 type=cta]
Ekaterina Alexandrova vs Sorana Cirstea
Head-to-head: first meeting
It’s somewhat surprising that these players have never faced before considering how long they both have been mainstays at WTA level. The lack of previous matchups makes this an even more difficult contest to predict as both players seem to be evenly matched and it will really come down to form on the day.
Prediction: Cirstea in 3
Elina Svitolina vs Caroline Wozniacki
Head-to-head: Svitolina 4-1 Wozniacki
Wozniacki’s return to the tour is arguably the biggest story in the WTA at the moment and a lot of people would like to see her make a run, but she’s running into an opponent who she struggled massively with even before leaving the tour. Svitolina had her number before and that is highly unlikely to have changed.
Prediction: Svitolina in 2
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
