The last stop before the US Open is happening at the WTA 250 in Cleveland, which is one of two women’s tournaments this week. Sonay Kartal will be among a slew of Top 50 players in action. As always, we here at LWOT have every match covered in our daily predictions, including Maya Joint vs Eva Lys. Who will reach the next round?
WTA Cleveland Day 1 Predictions
Yuliia Starodubtseva vs Ann Li
Head-to-head: Starodubtseva 1-1 Li
Starodubtseva and Ann Li have played twice on the ITF level, but this will be their first Tour-level meeting. The two players share many similarities. They are only separated by one spot in the WTA rankings, with the Ukrainian sitting at a career-high No. 63. Li’s defeats to eventual champion Marie Bouzkova in Prague and in-form Anna Kalinskaya in Montreal were to be expected. But it was the manner of her straight-sets loss to Viktoriya Tomova in Cincinnati that might shatter her confidence. Still, if she relies on her solid movement and clean technique, she’ll be the favorite over the inconsistent Starodubtseva.
Prediction: Li in 3
Katrina Scott vs Polina Kudermetova
Head-to-head: Kudermetova 1-0 Scott
Katrina Scott took four months off earlier this season and only returned to action in May. This will be her 18th match of 2025. She holds an 8-9 record, having competed on the ITF all year. So this will be a major step up for the former Top 150 player. Kudermetova’s big ball striking brings a ton of errors in her matches, but a fair share of reward in hitting through her opponents. The Russian should be expected to advance.
Prediction: Kudermetova in 2
Sonay Kartal vs Solana Sierra
Head-to-head: first meeting
Kartal’s breakthrough run at Wimbledon, where she made the fourth round for the first time, pushed her ranking into the Top 50. But she didn’t have a great start to the North American hard-court swing. She withdrew from Montreal, presumably due to injury, and then lost to Caroline Garcia in three sets in Cincinnati. Sierra also made quite the splash at Wimbledon, reaching the fourth round as a lucky loser, but is also chasing her first win since. Kartal is the overwhelming favorite on paper, but doubts remain on her fitness and match sharpness.
Prediction: Kartal in 2
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
