The schedule for Day 2 of the WTA Iasi Open contains some excellent matchups. No. 3 seed Jaqueline Cristian’s contest against Nuria Branaccio is one of those on the slate. We at LWOT predict all the matches in Iasi here and in a separate article, including Petra Martic vs Nuria Parrizas Diaz. But which players will progress to the Round of 16?
WTA Iasi Day 2 Predictions
Maria Lourdes Carle vs Chloe Paquet
Head-to-head: Carle 1-1 Paquet
These two played just a few days ago in Palermo, and Paquet swept Carle aside for the loss of just four games. She then came very close to making the semifinal, narrowly losing to her compatriot Diane Parry. Carle cannot be completely ruled out on her favourite surface, but she has mostly struggled this year. Another Paquet victory seems like the most likely outcome.
Prediction: Paquet in 2
Ekaterina Makarova vs Simona Waltert
Head-to-head: Waltert 1-0 Makarova
Both of these players were in action in Budapest last week. Makarova lost to the eventual champion, Diana Shnaider, in the Round of 16, while Waltert lost a close match to the 2023 winner in Budapest, Maria Timofeeva. This is a tough match to call. Overall, Makarova’s best level is slightly superior to Waltert’s, but in truth, this is a 50/50 matchup.
Prediction: Makarova in 3
Anca Todni vs Aliona Falei
Head-to-head: First meeting
20-year-old Falei is a talented player. She has yet to qualify for a Grand Slam main draw, but that will undoubtedly change in the future. However, she usually produces her best tennis on hard courts. At this stage of her career on clay, Todoni is likely to be more steady than the Belarusian over three sets.
Prediction: Todoni in 3
Martina Trevisan vs Varvara Lepchenko
Head-to-head: Trevisan 1-0 Lepchenko
Trevisan lost a close match on home soil last week in Palermo against Arantxa Rus. Despite being defeated, her level was still pretty good, and the Italian also won the WTA 125 tournament at the Swedish Open heading into Palermo. Overall, it has been a tough year for Trevisan, but she is looking in better form now. On clay, I struggle to see Lepchenko being able to handle her.
Prediction: Trevisan in 2
Jaqueline Cristian vs Nuria Branaccio
Head-to-head: Cristian 2-0 Branaccio
Cristian is looking to build on a run to the semifinal in Palermo at her home event in Iasi. The Romanian has already beaten US Open finalist Madison Keys, Emma Navarro and Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova on clay this year. She also took Danielle Collins and Daria Kasatkina to a deciding set on the dirt. Branaccio is a tough and gritty competitor, but Cristian’s power will probably be too much for her.
Prediction: Cristian in 2
Main Photo Credit: Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union/USAToday Sports
