Eight first-round matches are scheduled on Monday at the WTA 500 event in Brisbane, with LWOT previewing all of the men’s and women’s matches throughout the week. This set of predictions highlights the exciting Ons Jabeur’s return to the court–her first match in almost five months. Who will reach the second round?
WTA Brisbane Day 2 Predictions
Xinyu Wang vs Polina Kudermetova
Head-to-head: First meeting
Kudermetova went on a tear in Brisbane qualifying, losing a total of just 10 games across two matches. Her form has steadily improved throughout her young career, as she’ll eagerly look to return to a Grand Slam main draw this year for the first time since the 2023 Australian Open. Meanwhile, Wang had a good 2024 season and is one of the top players representing China. She should have more experience in this encounter. Don’t be surprised if it’s a close match, especially with Kudermetova having more matches under her belt this week.
Prediction: Wang in 3
Yue Yuan vs Arantxa Rus
Head-to-head: Rus 1-0
Rus’ one victory over Yuan came at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships, where she cruised to a 6-2 6-3 win. Ranked No. 76 at 34 years old, she had one of the best seasons of her career in 2024, reaching 20 tour-level wins. Yuan is arguably the better player on hard courts, and will soon have pressure to face when defending her maiden WTA title in Texas, in February. Yuan also had her best tour-level season in 2024, with 29 wins. Look for Yuan to win this match in a close two-setter.
Prediction: Yuan in 2
Anastasia Potapova vs Ana Bogdan
Head-to-head: Potapova 1-0
The pair’s only meeting came in the summer of 2024, where Potapova won 6-2 6-1 in the quarterfinals of the WTA 250 Cleveland event. Neither player had an outstanding 2024 season, and Potapova has dealt with some ankle injuries and illness toward the end of the year. Bogdan can play flawless tennis when at her best, but Potapova may be the slight favorite because of her better consistency and experience.
Prediction: Potapova in 3
Ons Jabeur vs Saisai Zheng
Head-to-head: 1-0 Zheng
This match marks Jabeur’s first singles match since the Canadian Open in August, while Zheng has also been on the comeback trail after a multi-year layoff. Zheng’s form better translated to the doubles court in 2024, while she went only 1-5 in singles. Jabeur’s singles form wasn’t great in 2024 — with many citing both injuries and a lack of consistent tennis. Yet, returning from an injury should help her rise back to the top of the game. Jabeur and Zheng haven’t played one another since 2017, and look for Jabeur to start her 2025 season strong here.
Prediction: Jabeur in 2
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
