Day 1 in Monterrey saw last year’s finalist, Timea Babos, lose to Ivana Jorovic in three sets. Will the defending champion, Garbine Muguruza, suffer the same fate today against Elena Gabriela Ruse? How about World No.5 Angelique Kerber, when she takes on Kristina Kucova? Read on to find out!
WTA Monterrey Open Day 2 Predictions
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova vs Anna Blinkova
Head to Head: Never Played
This all-Russian matchup will feature World No. 33 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova taking on World No. 117 Anna Blinkova. These two players have never squared off before. Both players are very good from the baseline, and this match could come down who can win the long rallies. In terms of experience, Pavlyuchenkova comes through in that department, as she has been on the tour many more years than the 20-year-old Blinkova.
While Pavlyuchenkova started off the year well, coming within one set of the Australian Open semifinals, she has really stagnated lately, losing the last three matches she played, including both matches during the Sunshine Double tournaments. Blinkova has picked up a good number of wins, but not a ton beyond the qualifying level. She has lost three of her last four matches, including in Miami qualifying, but in those three losses, they have all gone three sets. With both players perhaps a little lower in confidence, expect a tight battle with the more experienced player, Pavlyuchenkova, coming through.
Prediction : Pavlyuchenkova in 3
Miyu Kato vs Victoria Azarenka
Head to Head: Never Played
Today’s matches will also feature qualifier Miyu Kato taking on two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenko. Kato had to win three matches to get into the main draw of the Monterrey Open, including coming back from a 6-1 first set loss in the second qualifying round against Hiroko Kuwata. Azarenka has had a very inconsistent season, unable to win more than matches in a row at a tournament so far in 2019. However, she showed how high her level can be, in a loss to Serena Williams in Indian Wells in a match which is up there for highest level of the year.
These two players have never played before. However, that shouldn’t be a problem for Azarenka, who should be able to use her powerful groundstrokes to run Kato all around the court and force a bunch of errors.
Prediction: Azarenka in 2
Angelique Kerber vs Kristina Kucova
Head to Head: 1-0 Kerber
Tonight in Monterrey, three-time Major champion Angelique Kerber takes on Kristina Kucova. The gap in ranking between these two players is immense, as Kerber is No. 5 in the world, while Kucova is No. 291. Kucova, however, qualified for Monterrey, winning all three qualifying matches in straight sets, including an impressive win over Christina McHale. Kerber made the final of Indian Wells, but now, however, has lost two of her last three matches. Both of her recent losses have been to the young Canadian star, Bianca Andreescu.
Kerber leads the head to head 1-0, winning against Kucova in straight at Charleston in 2016. Despite clay being Kerber’s worst surface, she only dropped five games in the 6-2, 6-3 victory. Expect a similar, if not more dominant, win this time around.
Prediction: Kerber in 2
Elena-Gabriela Ruse vs Garbine Muguruza
Head to Head: Never Played
In the nightcap, lucky loser Elena-Gabriela Ruse battles defending champion, and two-time Major champion, Garbine Muguruza. Ruse made it all the way to the last stage of qualifying, but lost to Kucova. Ruse is putting together a good season at the ITF level, recently making the Final of a $25k tournament, but her wins in qualifying were her first wins of the season above the ITF level. Muguruza is putting together a very solid season, however, she tends to occasionally shut down when things aren’t going her way, and this has led to some shocking losses. She only got one game on Andreescu in the Indian Wells quarterfinal. She also lost in her first match in Miami, with Monica Niculescu defeating her.
These two players have never played one another before. Muguruza clearly likes to play in Monterrey and should be able to overpower Ruse with her groundstrokes. Muguruza wins comfortably.
Prediction: Muguruza in 2
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