Play returns to Guangzhou, China, for the first time since 2019. The WTA Guangzhou Open is a staple 250-level event on the calendar and welcomes a wide variety of players looking to make a late push up the rankings to close the season. Day 2 play in Guangzhou features ten singles matches, including Xiyu Wang taking on Nadia Podoroska. We at LWOT have the preview and prediction for that match and all other happenings around the grounds of Guangzhou. But who will advance?
WTA Guangzhou Day 2 Predictions
Tatjana Maria vs Alexandra Eala
Head-to-Head: Maria 2-0 Eala
No. 3 seed Tatjana Maria gets her Guangzhou tournament started against Alexandra Eala. Maria has convincingly beaten Eala twice this year, 6-2 6-2 in Hua Hin and 6-1 6-1 in Madrid. Maria comes into this match on a three-match losing streak but had won 11 of her previous 12 matches. She is a very consistent hardcourt player and has proven she is a massive favorite in this matchup.
Prediction: Maria in 2
Anna-Lena Friedsam vs Daria Saville
Head-to-Head: Friedsam 1-0 Saville
29-year-olds Anna-Lena Friedsam and Daria Saville will square off with a spot in the WTA Guangzhou second round on the line. These two played a back-and-forth match in Strasbourg in 2022, with Friedsam coming out on top 4-6 6-3 7-6. That said, the German has struggled this summer. She has lost her last five matches and has not won since the French Open. On the other side of the net, Saville ended a nine-month layoff in June. After knocking off some rust, she is 8-4 in her last 12 matches. Saville has superior match fitness and should be able to ride Friedsam’s lack of form to victory.
Prediction: Saville in 2
Lucia Bronzetti vs Ya Yi Yang
Head-to-Head: first meeting
No. 4 seed Lucia Bronzetti takes on Ya Yi Yang in Round 1 in Guangzhou. Bronzetti reached the third round of the US Open earlier this month and has played solid hardcourt tennis all season. Yang did not drop a set in qualifying and has played great tennis at the ITF level this season. That said, I do not believe she has the level needed to beat someone of Bronzetti’s caliber.
Prediction: Bronzetti in 2
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Yulia Putintseva vs Xiaodi You
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Yulia Putintseva begins her tournament against wildcard Xiaodi You. The 27-year-old Chinese has won just a single tour-level match in her career but holds a 33-19 ITF record in 2023. She holds a 1-13 record against top 100 players. Putintseva, the current world No. 81, has had an up-and-down season. Hardcourts are not her favorite surface, and I believe she is on upset alert in this encounter.
Prediction: You in 3
Xiyu Wang vs Nadia Podoroska
Head-to-Head: first meeting
22-year-old Xiyu Wang has the potential to become one of the top players in the world. Unfortunately, she has had a rough 2023 season. She looks to get back on track in her home country this week. Nadia Podoroska has not been great this season, either. She favors slower surfaces and will have trouble dealing with the pace Wang brings to the court.
Prediction: Wang in 2
Main Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin – Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
