It should be an entertaining second day of tennis at the WTA Ningbo Open with eight intriguing first-round matches on the slate. As always, we here at LWOT are offering our predictions for every match, including Ons Jabeur vs Diane Parry. But who will book their place in the round of 16 in Zhejiang?
WTA Ningbo Day 2 Predictions
Arantxa Rus vs Kamilla Rakhimova
Head-to-head: Rakhimova 1-0 Rus
This pair are at a very different stage in their careers, but in spite of that (or perhaps because of it) there isn’t much between them on paper. Kamilla Rakhimova did win their only previous match, but only after a long three-set battle two years ago and on a clay. Not the most instructive result then. But the Russian is probably the player in better form with Arantxa Rus having not won a match since early August. In truth, neither has been pulling up many trees lately, but the conditions might just suit Rakhimova a little better as well. Whatever happens, another three-setter looks to be in the offing.
Prediction: Rakhimova in 3
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Nadia Podoroska vs Wang Xiyu
Head-to-head: Wang 1-0 Podoroska
Nadia Podoroska, who it shouldn’t be forgotten is a French Open semifinalist, has improved on hard courts in recent years. But that improvement has been limited and there is no doubt that clay remains very much her favourite surface. One need look no further than her recent 3-6 3-6 loss at the hands of Wang Xiyu in Guangzhou for evidence of that. There was not many positives for Podoroska to take away from that and even less to suggest we could see a different outcome at the WTA Ningbo Open.
Prediction: Wang in 2
Tamara Korpatsch vs Jodie Burrage
Head-to-head: first meeting
It’s been an encouraging season for Jodie Burrage, with the Briton reaching the second round at both Wimbledon and the US Open. The resulting prize money haul will also surely have taken some of the weight off her shoulders, with her run through the qualifying in Ningbo another promising sign. Tamara Korpatsch is a good player on her day, as she showed by reaching the semifinals in Prague, but the momentum at the moment is with Burrage. Expect her to have just about enough to edge this pair’s first encounter.
Prediction: Burrage in 3
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Katerina Siniakova vs Elizabeth Mandlik
Head-to-head: first meeting
Being the daughter of a Grand Slam champion cannot be entirely easy, but the 22-year-old Elizabeth Mandlik is carving out a respectable career for herself and has already cracked the top 100. This looks like a tough draw, however. Katerina Siniakova is not the most consistent performer (at least in singles), but she boasts formidable power from the back of the court and has excellent hands at the net. If she can play her best tennis, or something close to it, she should have the beating of the American.
Prediction: Siniakova in 3
Main photo credit: David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports
