Day 1 in Nottingham has already delivered some drama on grass after wild card Taylah Preston pulled off a stunning upset, knocking out third seed Anna Blinkova to announce herself as a name to watch this week. Former champion Karolina Pliskova will enter the fray as she faces her younger compatriot Sara Bejlek. With seeds beginning to feel the pressure and the unpredictable nature of the surface very much on show, Day 2 promises to be anything but straightforward. Who will advance?
WTA Nottingham Day 2 Predictions
Karolina Pliskova vs Sara Bejlek
Head–to–Head: First Meeting
Sara Bejlek walks into this one carrying the weight of being seeded eleventh but not the game to justify it, at least not on grass. Inheriting the billing after a wave of withdrawals, the younger Czech is being thrown into deep water on a surface she barely knows. Her grass-court résumé is thin, her reading of the turf still developing, and standing across the net is arguably the last opponent she needs at this stage of her education.
Karolina Pliskova is a grass-court force of nature, and she is hungry. Back from injury and climbing the rankings with a point to prove, the veteran arrives with a serve that can end rallies before they begin and a pedigree on this surface that Bejlek simply cannot match.
Prediction: Pliskova in 2
Sofia Kenin vs Viktorija Golubic
Head–to–Head: Kenin 1 – 0 Golubic
Sofia Kenin will get a quick chance at revenge against Viktorija Golubic after the Swiss claimed a 6-3 6-4 win over the American in qualifying, but withdrawals mean the former Australian Open champion has a reprieve and the main draw has once again pitted her against the World #76.
Golubic has won both of their previous matches on grass in straight sets and will be bidding for the hat trick.
The matchup is tied at 2-2, but Kenin’s wins were on hard courts.
The American has managed just three wins this year and is low in confidence, so we don’t see much changing from the qualifying defeat over the weekend.
Prediction: Golubic in 2
Leylah Fernandez vs Zeynep Sonmez
Head–to–Head: Fernandez 1 – 0 Sonmez
Leylah Fernandez was knocked out early at Queen’s and will want to make the grass speak her language again, quickly. Standing in her way is Zeynep Sonmez, a player she has met before and knows is no pushover. Their Stuttgart clash earlier this year went the distance, which she eventually won.
Sonmez is no tourist on grass and carries real statistical weight on the surface. Expect the momentum to swing and neither player to blink easily. If Stuttgart was any blueprint, this one could go deep, but with two matches already under her belt, I’ll side with the Turk.
Prediction: Sonmez in 3
Ann Li vs Kimberly Birrell
Head–to–Head: Li 2 – 0 Birrell
Ann Li arrives in Nottingham riding the crest of a career-high ranking but the grass could be the great equalizer. The fifth seed, sitting just inside the Top 30, is making her first appearance on the surface this season and brings little grass-court pedigree to the table, two factors that could quickly turn confidence into vulnerability against the right opponent.
That opponent may well be Kimberly Birrell. The Australian and World #74 has history on the turf and, crucially, has already shaken off the rust with a match on grass this week. Timing and surface read could be everything here. While Li will be the heavy favorite on paper, Birrell has the tools and the momentum to make this uncomfortable and potentially pull off one of the early upsets of the tournament.
Prediction: Birrell in 3
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images
