Tennis returns to the city of Nanchang which will host the WTA Jiangxi Open for the fifth time. Home advantage has been a huge factor with three of the four previous champions being Chinese players. Main draw action begins on Monday with six matches on slate and, as always, we here at LWOT are offering our predictions for every match, including Camila Osorio vs Ma Ye-Xin. But who will progress?
WTA Jiangxi Open Day 1 Predictions
Elina Avanesyan vs Amina Anshba
Head-to-head: Anshba 2-1 Avanesyan
Elina Avanesyan and Amina Anshba are familiar with each other, not because they both hail from the same country, but have played each other on three occasions at the ITF level. Surprisingly, it is Anshba who leads their head-to-head. But it is pertinent to note that Anshba’s two wins came almost four years ago when Avanesyan’s career as a pro was at its infancy stage. And it is fair to say that the younger of the two Russians (Avanesyan) has made immense progress since, breaking the world’s Top 100 and reaching three WTA quarterfinals this season. However, her retirement in Hong Kong might even the odds here, so it could be close.
Prediction: Avanesyan in 3
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Wei Sijia vs Kimberly Birrell
Head-to-head: first meeting
Kimberly Birrell touched the world’s Top 100 in September, but it was a short-lived stay. The 25-year-old Australian enters the field in Nanchang hot on the heels of a quarterfinal run at the WTA 250 event in Seoul. Her opponent Wei Sijia is a big prospect in China after a stellar year on the lower tiers in 2022 saw her amass six ITF titles, all in the coastal city of Monastir, Tunisia. Her taste of Tour-level tennis came in the qualifying rounds of tournaments in her home country. But there is little justification the 20-year-old will overcome the tried and tested Birrell in the main draw.
Prediction: Birrell in 2
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Diana Shnaider vs Zhu Lin
Head-to-head: first meeting
Zhu Lin had been in excellent form in the past month. But since losing to higher-ranked compatriot Qinwen Zheng in the gold medal match at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, Lin appears to have stretched her body beyond her physical limits. She retired in Beijing after losing nine straight games in her first-round match. And in her last completed match in Zhengzhou, she won just five games against Laura Siegemund. Diana Shnaider also succumbed to exhaustion. After reaching her maiden WTA final in Ningbo, the 19-year-old could not produce similar levels in Zhengzhou. Don’t expect too many intense and physical rallies here, and that could benefit the hard-hitting Russian, whose offense gives her the edge.
Prediction: Shnaider in 3
Main photo credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
