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 No. 2 seed Lin Zhu taking on Anna Kalinskaya. 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
Yue Yuan vs Tamara Korpatsch
Head-to-Head: first meeting
24-year-old wildcard Yue Yuan gets her tournament started against veteran German Tamara Korpatsch. Yuan has had an inconsistent season, seeing her rank slip back outside the top 100. She enters this event on a four-match losing streak and will need the crowd to get behind her. Korpatsch reached the semifinals in Prague in August and won a match at the US Open. She is playing confidently on the hard courts and should be able to limit her unforced error count to get by Yuan.
Prediction: Korpatsch in 3
Jessika Ponchet vs Moyuka Uchijima
Head-to-Head: Ponchet 1-0 Uchijima
Lucky loser Jessika Ponchet takes on qualifier Moyuka Uchijima in the first round in Guangzhou. Ponchet won their only previous meeting 7-6 6-2 over five years ago. Both women have yet to enter the world’s top 100 and would love a significant result at a WTA event. Ponchet comes into this match, having won just two of her last eight matches. Uchijima, on the other hand, holds an 8-4 record in the previous five weeks. I like Uchijima’s current form and ability to move Ponchet around the court to lead her to victory.
Prediction: Uchijima in 2
Rebecca Marino vs Viktorija Golubic
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Veterans Rebecca Marino and Viktorija Golubic will square off for the first time, with a spot in the Guangzhou second round on the line. Both former top 40 players currently reside outside the world’s top 100. A few wins in Guangzhou would go a long way for their confidence and ranking. Besides a semifinal run in Granby, Marino has had a quiet summer. On the other hand, Golubic won the title in Tokyo earlier this month and holds a 7-1 hardcourt record in September. She is confidently striking the ball and should find success against her Canadian counterpart.
Prediction: Golubic in 3
[cta id=4014 type=cta]
Zhuoxuan Bai vs Despina Papamichail
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Wildcard Zhuoxuan Bai squares off against qualifier Despina Papamichail in the first round in Guangzhou. At just 20 years old, Bai is up to a career-high ranking of world No. 128. She holds a 31-13 ITF record this year but is looking to translate that success to the tour (1-2). Papamichail looked solid in two straight-set qualifying wins and is 8-5 in her last 13 hardcourt matches. This should be a back-and-forth battle, with both players trading blows from the baseline. I give a slight advantage to the young Chinese, who should be helped out by the crowd.
Prediction: Bai in 3
Lin Zhu vs Anna Kalinskaya
Head-to-Head: first meeting
No. 2 seed Lin Zhu gets her WTA Guangzhou tournament started against 24-year-old Russian Anna Kalinskaya. Given the makeup of this draw, it is an unfortunate first-round match for both players. At age 29, Zhu is having, far and away, the most fruitful season of her professional career. She holds a 27-19 tour-level record and has reached five semifinals (four on hardcourt). She is coming off a run to the Osaka final and holds a 9-3 record over the last month. Kalinskaya reached the quarterfinals in Osaka last week before falling to eventual champion Ashlyn Krueger in straight sets. Kalinskaya has the power to pierce through Zhu, but I do not foresee her having the consistency to hold up for three sets.
Prediction: Zhu in 3
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke – USA TODAY Sports
