There is a very busy second day scheduled at the WTA Charleston Open. Former US Open champion Sloane Stephens and last year’s Guadalajara champion Maria Sakkari’s matches are two of four contests predicted in this article. We at LWOT predict the other matches in two separate articles, including Madison Keys vs Jaqueline Cristian and Jessica Pegula vs Amanda Anisimova. But which players do you think will win?
WTA Charleston Day 2 Predictions
Ana Bogdan vs Elisabetta Cocciaretto
Head-to-head: Bogdan 1-0 Cocciaretto
Cocciaretto is likely to be very pleased that the clay court season has begun. The Italian plays her best tennis on the dirt, including winning the title in Lausanne last season. Bogdan’s level dropped during the Sunshine Double after reaching the final on home soil last month in Cluj-Napoca. The Romanian is also capable on clay and this could be a tight battle. I will back Cocciaretto’s greater consistency in prevailing on the green clay at the WTA Charleston Open, but this could go either way.
Prediction: Cocciaretto in 3
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Magda Linette vs Dayana Yastremska
Head-to-head: Yastremska 3-0 Linette
Last year’s Australian Open semifinalist Linette got a very welcome win against Petra Martic after a rough start to the season. Can she topple this year’s semifinalist in Melbourne Yastremska? The Ukrainian has been inconsistent since her great run at the opening Grand Slam of the year. Nonetheless, she should have too much for Linette. The green clay has a little more pace than most red clay courts, which will make her firepower even more difficult for Linette to manage at the WTA Charleston Open.
Prediction: Yastremska in 2
Maria Sakkari vs Viktoriya Tomova
Head-to-head: Sakkari 2-1 Tomova
It will be fascinating to observe Sakkari during the clay court season. The early signs have been very bright under her new coach, David Witt, and she played her best tennis for a long time during the Sunshine double, including being runner-up to world No. 1 Iga Swiatek in Indian Wells. The change in surface is a test of her consistency. She is a heavy favourite to start with a win against Tomova. The Bulgarian has not had a great start to the season and lacks the firepower to hurt her Greek opponent.
Prediction: Sakkari in 2
Sloane Stephens vs Magdalena Frech
Head-to-head: Stephens 2-0 Frech
Stephens has played a lot of good tennis so far this year, but she has also been blighted by sudden drops in her level during some matches. Despite this, she usually starts tournaments well, having lost in the first-round once in her last six events. The 2017 US Open champion has won both of her previous meetings on clay against Frech. Although the Pole has made an impressive start to the season, the conditions at the WTA Charleston Open suit the former champion at the event Stephens more. If she is near her best, she should come through this.
Prediction: Stephens in 2
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Main Photo Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran – USA TODAY Sports
