A staggering 22 first-round matches are scheduled on Day 2 of the WTA Mutua Madrid Open. This article features former semifinalist Belinda Bencic, who takes on Turkish player Zeynep Sonmez. As always, we at LWOT will offer predictions for every match on the slate. But which players will advance?
WTA Madrid Day 2 Predictions
Diane Parry vs Irina-Camelia Begu
Head-to-Head: Parry 0-1 Begu
Diane Parry succeeded to qualify for the main draw of the Madrid Masters for the first time in three attempts. Parry played two solid matches in the qualifying rounds and will look to get her first tour-level win of the season. 2024 was a great year for the Frenchman, and she will be a threat if she can find that level again. Irina-Camelia Begu has a huge amount of experience on this surface, but her form hasn’t been anywhere close to what she is capable of. The qualifying matches should help Parry to adjust to the surface better and get the win.
Prediction: Parry in 3
Jaqueline Cristian vs Sonay Kartal
Head-to-Head: Cristian 0-1 Kartal
Jaqueline Cristian had a disappointing loss in Rouen last week and would be looking to bounce back immediately. Clay is Cristian’s best surface statistically, and she had a good run here in Madrid last year. Sonay Kartal has won their only previous meeting, but that was on hard court. Kartal has very little experience playing on clay, and Cristian should take advantage. I expect the Romanian player to come through in three sets.
Prediction: Cristian in 3
Ajla Tomljanovic vs Rebeka Masarova
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Ajla Tomljanovic will be making her fifth appearance in the main draw at the Madrid Open, and her record is not good. She has only won one match here, which came 10 years ago in 2015. Rebeka Masarova is coming through qualifying, which gives her the edge of understanding the conditions better. However, the margins here are small, and whoever plays their best tennis will win.
Prediction: Masarova in 3
Belinda Bencic vs Zeynep Sonmez
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Belinda Bencic has lost consecutive matches for the first time since her comeback, which says more about how consistent she has been this season. Bencic has made a couple of deep runs in Madrid and should like the faster conditions. Zeynep Sonmez had a great performance in the final round of qualifying against Varvara Lepchenko and extended her win streak to five in all competitions. She has the talent to trouble Bencic, especially if the Swiss player makes a slow start. However, I like Bencic’s chances to win eventually.
Prediction: Bencic in 3
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images
