The unique WTA Charleston Open played on green clay has many great matches to enjoy on day 2. Madison Keys is one of those in action, with her contest one of four predicted in this article. We at LWOT also predict the outcomes of the rest of the day’s matches in Charleston in separate articles, including Sloane Stephens vs Magdalena Frech and Jessica Pegula vs Amanda Anisimova. But which players do you think will win?
WTA Charleston Day 2 Predictions
Arina Rodionova vs Astra Sharma
Head-to-head: Rodionova 2-0 Sharma
This is a great opportunity for both players. Each woman is currently ranked outside the Top 100 and will see this as an ideal chance to get a WTA main-draw win. Overall, I think the lower-ranked Sharma is a slight favorite to prevail at the WTA Charleston Open. She played very well in qualifying, and Rodionova is a strong hard-court specialist, often struggling on clay throughout her career. Those factors tip the match in Sharma’s favour.
Prediction: Sharma in 2
Caroline Dolehide vs Kayla Day
Head-to-head: Dolehide 2-2 Day
Day will be happy to move away from hard courts and on to clay for a while. The 24-year-old has struggled a lot so far in 2024 and will hope to find inspiration on the green clay at the WTA Charleston Open. Although Day is the lower-ranked of the two players, she defeated Dolehide in their only clay court meeting last year. A repeat of that is possible, but at her best, Dolehide is the better player. It is also hard to trust Day to produce a good level at the moment.
Prediction: Dolehide in 2
Ashlyn Krueger vs Gabriela Lee
Head-to-head: Krueger 1-0 Lee
The difference in ranking is stark between Krueger and World No. 312 Lee. Is there any chance of an upset in this match at the WTA Charleston Open? The positive for Lee is that she is a clay court specialist, with almost all her success on the ITF Circuit coming on the dirt. Unfortunately, Krueger did crush Lee 6-2 6-2 last year on clay in their only previous meeting. Even if Krueger is not at her best, her power is still likely to overwhelm her opponent.
Prediction: Krueger in 2
Madison Keys vs Jaqueline Cristian
Head-to-head: Keys 1-0 Cristian
This is Keys’ third tournament of the season after missing the opening two months with an injury. Her level was pretty good at the Miami Open, where she lost in the round of 16 to last year’s Australian Open runner-up Elena Rybakina. She won the title at the WTA Charleston Open in 2019, with the slightly quicker green clay suiting her more than the red version of the surface. I do not foresee Cristian having enough to overcome Keys. The Romanian strikes the ball cleanly, but she probably will not be able to live with Keys’ raw power.
Prediction: Keys in 2
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke – USA TODAY Sports
