The opening day of the WTA 250 event in Cluj-Napoca sees six matches taking place. Three of those are predicted in this article, including a fascinating matchup between the American Alycia Parks and home favourite Ana Bogdan. Which players do you think will win on day 1 in Cluj-Napoca?
WTA Cluj-Napoca Day 1 Predictions
Viktoriya Tomova vs Camila Osorio
Head-to-head: Osorio 1-0 Tomova
Tomova has made a very solid start to 2024. Her run to the quarterfinal in Hobart included a victory against former Wimbledon semifinalist Tatjana Maria and she then got to the second-round of the Australian Open. Osorio’s beginning to 2024 has been slower and she is yet to win a WTA main draw match this season. Yet, the Colombian gets the edge in this clash in Cluj-Napoca. Her style is capable of blunting the aggressive groundstrokes of Tomova if she finds her best tennis. It is likely to be a close match if Osorio does prevail, but she gets a small advantage against Tomova nonetheless.
Prediction: Osorio in 3
Anna Blinkova vs Simona Waltert
Head-to-head: Blinkova 1-1 Waltert
This is Blinkova’s first match since the Australian Open. She received international recognition after her crazy final-set tiebreak against Elena Rybakina in Melbourne, which she eventually won. Blinkova had started the year slowly but will hope that her run to the third-round of the Australian Open can create some momentum for the rest of the year. Expect her to have too much for Waltert. The Swiss world No. 169 is a talented player and can be an awkward opponent. However, Blinkova’s style should adequately deal with that challenge if she is even close to her best in Cluj-Napoca.
Prediction: Blinkova in 2
Alycia Parks vs Ana Bogdan
Head-to-head: Bogdan 1-0 Parks
Parks will hope to recapture the form from her two wins at the Australian Open, particularly her straight-sets triumph against 2021 US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez. By contrast, Bogdan was beaten by Brenda Fruhvirtova in the first-round in Melbourne. This is likely to be a close contest. Parks is difficult to break when her formidable serve is firing. However, Bogdan will have the home crowd behind her and is capable of producing power herself. Overall, the Romanian gets a very slight edge to progress to the second-round of her home tournament.
Prediction: Bogdan in 3
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane – USA TODAY Sports
