The first day of the WTA 250 event in Osaka suffered rain interruptions. However, much excellent tennis was still played. The second day promises to be even better, with number #1 seed Lin Zhu one of the players in action. We at LWOT also have a separate article for the rest of the day’s matches in Osaka. Who do you think will advance to the next round?
WTA Osaka Day 2 Predictions
Misaki Doi vs Arianne Hartono
Head-to-head: First meeting
This is a great opportunity for both players to get a main draw WTA Tour victory. Hartono is ranked outside the Top 200, while Doi is even lower at #329. It is the home favourite Doi who has the greater overall pedigree, having previously been as high as #30 in the world, Unfortunately, a mixture of injuries and poor form has seen a rapid fall. However, Doi did reach a final at an ITF event in Czech Republic at her previous event. That momentum and a home crowd might get her over the line here.
Prediction: Doi in 3
Jule Niemeier vs Anna Kalinskaya
Head-to-head: First meeting
Each woman is currently far below their best ranking. Niemeier in particular dropped a huge 45 places to #136 after failing to qualify for the US Open, hence not defending any of her points from a fourth round appearance in New York last year. She also lost many points after not defending points from a quarterfinal at Wimbledon last year. Kalinskaya did get a very good first round win at Flushing Meadows against Katerina Siniakova. This was her first tournament since May after a long injury layoff. A lack of match sharpness could still be an issue here. But her performance against Siniakova makes me think she will have enough to get another win here against a struggling Niemeier.
Prediction: Kalinskaya in 3
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Moyuka Uchijima vs Ankita Raina
Head-to-head: Uchijima 1-0 Raina
These two met earlier this year in the second qualifying round for the main draw of the French Open. Uchijima prevailed on that occasion. The rankings do indicate this could be a tight contest, with Uchijima #174, while Raina is #181. Each player has had occasional solid results lately. Uchijima reached the semifinal of the Stanford Challenger, while Raina came through qualifying to get to the round of 16 in Prague. Raina is most comfortable on hard courts by far, and clay is her worst surface. That might allow her to get revenge on Uchijima for her loss in Paris on the hard courts at the WTA Osaka Open. It is likely to be very close though.
Prediction: Raina in 3
Viktorija Golubic vs Jessika Ponchet
Head-to-head: Golubic 1-0 Ponchet
Golubic has the greater overall pedigree of these two, with a quarterfinal run at Wimbledon in 2021 on her CV. The Swiss is outside the Top 100 right now. But she did get a morale boosting tournament win at a WTA 100 event in Tokyo. The 30-year-old beat Xiyu Wang in the final in impressive fashion. Golubic can be inconsistent, and Ponchet certainly enters with a chance. The best level of Golubic is better than Ponchet’s. Will she find it? I do think her recent title win was such a boost that the momentum from that can help her win another match at the WTA event in Osaka.
Prediction: Golubic in 2
Lin Zhu vs Xiyu Wang
Head-to-head: Zhu 4-1 Wang
Zhu is having the stronger season of these two so far. She is near a career high ranking at #35, and almost made the US Open fourth round, being narrowly stopped by Belinda Bencic. Wang by contrast is only just inside the Top 100. However, she did get a good first round win at the US Open, and followed it up with that final run mentioned above at an ITF event in Tokyo. Nonetheless, the head-to-head between the players is also strongly in favour of the higher ranked Chinese player. Wang does have a dangerous game when its working, but the overall signs indicate a Zhu win at the WTA Osaka Open.
Prediction: Zhu in 2
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke – USA TODAY Sports
