The second part of the WTA 1000 Chinese double is the 2024 Wuhan Open. It’s been five years since this event disappeared off the WTA Tour schedule with Aryna Sabalenka coming in as a two-time defending champion. But before the top seed enters the conversation, we’ve got plenty of exciting matches on Day 1 already. Recent Guadalara titlist Magdalena Frech takes on Mai Hontama, while in-form Donna Vekic will look for her first win over Elise Mertens. Who do you think will prevail?
WTA Wuhan Day 1 Predictions
Bernarda Pera vs Irina-Camelia Begu
Head-to-head: First meeting
This comeback season for Irina-Camelia Begu has been quite strong, starting almost from scratch in late March she’s now nearing the Top 100. But the Romanian has pretty much exclusively played on clay this season as that’s the surface where her heavy topspin was always at its best. Bernarda Pera is slightly better than her in quicker conditions generally and has already picked up two wins in the qualifying here. That momentum could be really important for the American.
Prediction: Pera in 3
Yue Yuan vs Clara Burel
Head-to-head: First meeting
It was this time last year that Yue Yuan started foreshadowing the breakthrough she was about to have in the first half of 2024. She’s not firing like that this Asian swing (at least not yet), but remains a very talented ball-striker and should like the Wuhan conditions. Clara Burel defeated Alycia Parks in the first qualifying round and then took just two games off Cristina Bucsa. This isn’t going to be clear-cut, but Yuan has the ability stay on top of the rallies against her the way that the Spaniard did.
Prediction: Yuan in 3
Mai Hontama vs Magdalena Frech
Head-to-head: First meeting
Magdalena Frech is battling for an Australian Open seeding right now after recently picking up her first WTA Tour title in Guadalajara. The Pole has done tremendous work to maximize her potential over the years and has taken her grinding game to the next level. Just keeping the ball deep and consistent might not be enough for Mai Hontama to beat her at this stage and Frech will probably post another solid win after making the fourth round in Beijing last week.
Prediction: Frech in 2
Donna Vekic vs Elise Mertens
Head-to-head: Mertens 1-0
It was a really strong summer for Donna Vekic with the Olympic final and Wimbledon semifinal. Seems like the Croat is still able to reach that level from time to time now, getting to the fourth round at the US Open and losing a tight battle to Mirra Andreeva last week. It’s clear that she’ll be attacking here with Elise Mertens trying to win this with her brutal consistency. If what we remember of the last Wuhan edition in 2019 is still true in regards to the speed of the courts, they could suit Vekic in this matchup.
Prediction: Vekic in 3
Main Photo Credit: David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports
