Top seeds like Naomi Osaka and Paula Badosa will open their WTA Indian Wells accounts with round 2 matches. We have predictions for every round 2 match at the BNP Paribas Open.
Naomi Osaka vs Veronika Kudermetova
Kudermetova is at a career high ranking, she was a finalist in Dubai and also in Melbourne (WTA Warm Up) to open the season. Osaka lost to Kudermetova before the Australian Open and at 6-3 to start the season, is well off her best tennis. Osaka is the higher ranked player and clearly has all the talent in the world, but Kudermetova has been playing her best tennis this season and that form matters, I’ll go with the upset. Kudermetova in 2
Petra Kvitova vs Aliaksandra Sasnovich
This pair have split meetings, Kvitova was a quarterfinalist in Dubai and has opened the season 5-7. Sasnovich easily won her first round match and has been in hot form to open the season. Kvitova is the better player, but Sasnovich’s form looks good enough to get an upset win. Sasnovich in 2
Viktorija Golubic vs Yulia Putintseva
Putintseva has been solid since last season, Golubic won their only meeting, the Swiss player has been somewhat pedestrian thus far this season and Putintseva probably has more upside to her game at this point in time. This match should be a battle. Putintseva in 2
Paula Badosa vs Tereza Martincova
Martincova is 3-0 against Badosa, she made two solid runs in tournaments after the Australian Open this year, Badosa reached the second week in Melbourne and won the Sydney warm up tournament. This match looks to be competitive, and although Badosa is the higher seed, Martincova dominating the h2h has to give one pause. I’ll back the Czech to get what is on paper an upset win. Martincova in 3
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