There is a busy opening day of WTA Beijing action scheduled. The 2020 Australian Open champion, Sofia Kenin, starts her campaign on the Diamond Court against Ana Bogdan. That match is one of four predicted in this article. We at LWOT predict the other contests in separate articles, including Naomi Osaka vs Lucia Bronzetti, Amanda Anisimova vs Xinyu Wang, and Taylor Townsend vs Martina Trevisan. But which players do you think will win?
WTA Beijing Day 1 Predictions
Laura Siegemund vs Yulia Starodubtseva
Head-to-head: First meeting
Siegemund enters this match after a run to the final of the Thailand Open in Hua Hin last week, finishing as the runner-up to Rebecca Sramkova. Starodubtseva is at a career-high ranking, although she is still outside the Top 100 at No. 115. Siegemund is 36 years old, but the four and nine-minute battle she won in Hua Hin shows her high fitness levels. The German is the favorite against her Ukrainian opponent after getting a couple of days off after her run in Thailand.
Prediction: Siegemund in 3
Caroline Dolehide vs Clara Burel
Head-to-head: Burel 1-0 Dolehide
Dolehide’s ranking plummeted from No. 45 to 98 on Monday after losing her points from finishing as the runner-up at last year’s Guadalajara Open. The American will be desperate to respond against Burel. Dolehide is the more aggressive player, and the speedy conditions in Beijing should assist her more. That may give her a slight advantage, but this matchup could easily go either way.
Prediction: Dolehide in 3
Elina Avanesyan vs Emina Bektas
Head-to-head: First meeting
Avanesyan is rightly known as a clay-court specialist but has improved on hard courts this year. Her run to the last 16 of the National Bank Open last month demonstrates that. Bektas is a good draw for Avanesyan. The 31-year-old had some impressive results on the ITF Circuit earlier in the year but has mostly struggled in recent months. The more accomplished Avanesyan should progress to the next round.
Prediction: Avanesyan in 2
Sofia Kenin vs Ana Bogdan
Head-to-head: Kenin 2-1 Bogdan
2024 has been a very challenging year for Kenin. Her best level on hard courts is undoubtedly better than Bogdan’s, but she has repeatedly struggled to find her best this season. Defeating the 2021 champion, Emma Raducanu, at Flushing Meadows a few weeks ago was a rare exception, and Kenin will hope to find some inspiration from that triumph. The former Australian Open winner is backed to win, but that is not predicted with certainty.
Prediction: Kenin in 3
Main Photo Credit: Ray Acevedo – USA TODAY Sports
