First-round action at the WTA Trophee Clarins in Paris concludes on Tuesday with a slew of exciting matches. The best eight matches of Day 2 will be covered in our daily predictions, with four of those in a separate article. Who will advance?
WTA Trophee Clarins Day 2 Predictions
Harriet Dart vs Katie Boulter
Head-to-head: Boulter 4-1 Dart
Teammates turn rivals on Tuesday in an all-British clash at the WTA Trophee Clarins. When Harriet Dart and Katie Boulter played against each other in Nottingham last season, things got a little bit tetchy. Both players arrived here on the back of early exits in Rome, losing to the same opponent–Rebecca Sramkova. Neither player has a strong affinity for clay. Boulter’s insistence on playing for her country at the expense of Dart in last month’s Billie Jean King Cup tie against France on clay suggests she fancies a challenge. This one will be on a knife edge, with a slight edge to the British No. 1.
Prediction: Boulter in 3
Diane Parry vs Anastasia Zakharova
Head-to-head: first meeting
Diane Parry won this tournament last year. It was a bittersweet victory because her opponent withdrew before the final. 12 months on, Parry arrives in Paris, entrenched in the Top 50. She has struggled with her fitness for weeks now. She retired in Rouen last month and looked off the pace in shock straight sets defeat to Anna Blinkova in Rome. Anastasia Zakharova has fared even worse in that time, losing four straight matches. She’s also been perturbed by an injury that has slowed her down for almost two months. With all these factors in play, it looks like Parry will sneak into the second round.
Prediction: Parry in 3
Diana Shnaider vs Greet Minnen
Head-to-head: Shnaider 1-0 Minnen
This is the second meeting in as many weeks between Shnaider and Minnen. The Russian lefty overpowered the Belgian in Rome this past week. Shnaider is exceptional at creating angles, but that forehand is her signature shot. She can hit it crosscourt or go down the line, and the accuracy is pinpoint. When she is playing well, Shnaider is a difficult woman to stop, so I don’t see any surprises here.
Prediction: Shnaider in 2
Sloane Stephens vs Olivia Gadecki
Head-to-head: Stephens 1-0 Gadecki
Olivia Gadecki has the tenacity to pull off marquee wins. She’s beaten some prominent American players like Sofia Kenin and Shelby Rogers in the past. Beating the 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens would rank top of the pile for the Australian world #168. When they played in Melbourne earlier this year, Gadecki hardly laid a glove on Stephens. With the third seed entering this tournament in excellent shape and form, expect her to cruise into the second round.
Prediction: Stephens in 2
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
