The WTA Wuhan Open is the last WTA 1000 tournament of the season, and the draw is packed with the game’s leading lights. Day one gets underway with 12 matches and, as always, we at LWOT will offer predictions for all of them, including Dayana Yastremska vs Laura Siegemund. But who will advance to the second round?
WTA Wuhan Day 1 Predictions
Antonia Ruzic vs Magda Linette
Head-to-head: first meeting
Antonia Ruzic had a tough qualifying draw, but she won both her matches without losing a set and will pose a tough challenge to Magda Linette, who is on a four-match losing streak and is defending quarterfinal points here at the Wuhan Open. Linette is a quality player, but it’s difficult to back her in this form. The Croatian might just have the edge in this one.
Prediction: Ruzic in 3
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Moyuka Uchijima vs Wang Xinyu
Head-to-head: first meeting
Moyuka Uchijima did brilliantly to qualify for the main draw, as she was the underdog in both the qualifying matches. She will arrive at this match full of confidence and will look to get her first main draw win since the US Open. Xinyu Wang played some great tennis here last year and needs some match wins to get back in form. She will be counting on her experience and crowd support to help her get past a tough opponent. That should be just about enough.
Prediction: Wang in 3
Varvara Gracheva vs Jessica Bouzas Maneiro
Head-to-head: Gracheva 0-2 Bouzas Maneiro
Varvara Gracheva got a great win against Iva Jovic in the second round of qualifying and will play the WTA Wuhan main draw for the first time as a result. The Frenchwoman has struggled since reaching the quarterfinals in Cincinnati and needs a strong week to regain her confidence. Jessica Bouzas Maneiro will be a big challenge, and Gracheva must serve well to have a chance of winning this match. Bouzas Maneiro is an aggressive returner and will pounce on anything weak. Gracheva can win a set, but the Spaniard should have enough to win the match.
Prediction: Bouzas Maneiro in 3
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Diana Shnaider vs Katerina Siniakova
Head-to-head: Shnaider 1-0 Siniakova
The Asian swing hasn’t been going as planned for Diana Shnaider, with just one win so far. She will look to make a strong start here, but has a tough opener against a quality opponent. Katerina Siniakova, a former quarterfinalist here, did well to qualify for the main draw without expending much energy. These two played at the start of this season and had a bizarre match, which Shnaider won. Expecting a tighter contest in this one, but for Shnaider to come out on top.
Prediction: Shnaider in 3
Main photo credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images
