Three singles matches are scheduled for the opening day of the 2024 WTA Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart. The match that immediately jumps out from the Order of Play is between former world #2 Paula Badosa and Russian prodigy Diana Shnaider. So, who will advance into the second round?
WTA Stuttgart Day 1 Predictions
Aliaksandra Sasnovich vs Sachia Vickery
Head-to-head: Vickery 1-0 Sasnovich
The first match of the day is a meeting between Sansovich and Vickery, who both came through qualifying at the weekend. Less than two years ago, Sasnovich ended the year with a Top 30 ranking. However, the Belarusian’s form has fallen off significantly in the last 12 months, and she finds herself outside the Top 100. She’s still chasing her first main draw win of the season.
Vickery has fared slightly better, getting a rare tour-level win against Rebecca Marino in Austin. The American has also outperformed Sansonvich at lower levels this year, such as reaching a seminal at the W100 ITF in Irapuato. The momentum is very much with Vickery here, who has won twice the number of matches that Sasnovich has managed since the start of the season.
Prediction: Vickery in 3
Veronika Kudermetova vs Barbora Krejcikova
Head-to-head: Kudermetova 2-1 Krejcikova
Kudermetova is ranked just inside the Top 20 but has underperformed for most of 2024. Her game has clicked, though, during her last tournament in Charleston, where she earned wins over Shelby Rogers and Beatriz Haddad Maia to make the quarterfinal.
Krejcikova last competed on tour in early February. She’s been dealing with a back injury and caught a respiratory infection while on her way to Miami. Resuming her season on clay couldn’t have been timely. It’s her favorite surface, although she is a versatile player. Given the gap from her last match, Krejickova might take a while to get a semblance of control in this match. Expect big-serving Kudermetova to have the upper hand.
Prediction: Kudermetova in 3
Paula Badosa vs Diana Shnaider
Head-to-head: Badosa 1-1 Shnaider
Badosa and Shnaider met more recently at the Hua Hin Championships at the end of January. The Spaniard trailed by a set and retired midway through the second set due to injury. Before that, Badosa outplayed the young Russian on the green clay in Charleston last season, dropping just four games. A chronic back injury has dictated Badosa’s playing time for nearly a year, but she has a great track record of playing her best tennis on clay when healthy.
Prediction: Badosa in 3
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
