Elina Svitolina plays her first match since a tight loss at the Olympics to Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova on Day 1 of the WTA 1000 in Toronto. Her match against 2020 US Open quarterfinalist Shelby Rogers is one of 11 contests on the opening day. We at LWOT predict all the matches on the slate here and in two separate articles, including Sloane Stephens vs Greet Minnen and Bianca Andreescu vs Lesia Tsurenko.
WTA Toronto Day 1 Predictions
Anastasia Potapova vs Magdalena Frech
Head-to-head: First meeting
Both players have slipped under the radar somewhat this year. Potapova’s solid season far includes a run to the quarterfinal at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. Frech reached the Australian Open quarterfinal and her first WTA final in Prague last month. Expect many long rallies between two solid baseliners. Potapova may have slightly more firepower when she needs it, but this could go either way.
Prediction: Potapova in 3
Nadia Podoroska vs Karolina Pliskova
Head-to-head: First meeting
Pliskova was terrible in the final two sets of her loss at the Citi DC Open last week against Yafan Wang. Podoroska plays her best tennis on clay. However, the Argentine could beat the 2021 Wimbledon runner-up if she plays like last week against Wang. Aside from a brief run of form in February when she won the title in Cluj-Napoca and made the semifinal in Doha, she has struggled for a couple of years. Someone with Pliskova’s ability should not lose to Podoroska on a hard court, but it is a possibility right now.
Prediction: Podoroska in 3
Anna Kalinskaya vs Louisa Chirico
Head-to-head: First meeting
28-year-old Chirico is competing in her first WTA 1000 main draw event since 2017. Upsetting this year’s runner-up in Dubai and Berlin is a tough challenge for the American. Kalinskaya is one of the most improved players in the women’s game. If she brings 70% of the accuracy and firepower she is capable of, Kalinskaya will undoubtedly win this match against her gritty but less naturally talented opponent.
Prediction: Kalinskaya in 2
Elina Svitolina vs Shelby Rogers
Head-to-head: Svitolina 4-0 Rogers
Svitolina is enjoying a solid year, which made her split with coach Raemon Sluiter quite surprising. The Ukrainian’s coaching situation is unlikely to affect the outcome of this match. Rogers is yet to beat Svitolina, although three of their four previous meetings went to a deciding set. However, Rogers was at a much better level in those previous matches than she is currently. The American has struggled since her return from a severe injury. It is difficult to see how she overcomes Svitolina’s all-round solid game.
Prediction: Svitolina in 2
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
