Almost all of the first-round matches will be completed on Tuesday, Day 2 at the 2022 WTA BNP Paribas Poland Open in Warsaw. Kristina Mladenovic against Anna Bondar looks like a cracking matchup on paper. Can the former Top 10 player pull off a vintage display? We also look at the rest of the day’s matches in a separate article. Who do you think will advance?
WTA Warsaw Day 2 Predictions
Elisabetta Cocciaretto vs Martyna Kubka
Head-to-head: First meeting
Martyna Kubka ensured her main draw wildcard here by making a great run at the Polish National Championships, only losing to Magdalena Frech in the final. The Pole has plenty of potential and has a hyper-aggressive style, but her progress has stagnated a lot in recent years. Executing her game efficiently enough to beat someone like Elisabetta Cocciaretto seems like a very unrealistic idea at this point.
Prediction: Cocciaretto in 2
Sara Errani vs Arantxa Rus
Head-to-head: Errani 4-1
Sara Errani is like a gladiator on the court and that fighting spirit is still allowing her some great results, even at this stage of her career. The Italian made it through the qualifying draw, beating Andrea Lazaro Garcia and Paula Ormaechea. While she lost to Arantxa Rus in Marbella this year, it was a very tight affair. There’s really no reason why Errani can’t keep going and perhaps she can score another gritty win and exact revenge.
Prediction: Errani in 3
Maryna Zanevska vs Kateryna Baindl
Head-to-head: Baindl 4-1
Kateryna Baindl has only ever lost to Maryna Zanevska once – in the semifinals of this event last year. The tournament was held in a different city back then (Gdynia), so it’s unclear how much confidence the Belgian can draw from winning her maiden WTA Tour title there in this matchup. It was their only meeting on clay though and that surface should suit Zanevska more than it does Baindl. Especially as the Ukrainian didn’t play well in the qualifying, losing to Jesika Maleckova in the final round (got in as a lucky loser).
Prediction: Zanevska in 3
Kristina Mladenovic vs Anna Bondar
Head-to-head: First meeting
Kristina Mladenovic obviously has the talent to be contending for titles at events like this, but it’s been a while since she did. This has been an extremely weird year for the Frenchwoman with her picking up a trophy at a 60K in Caserta, while only winning two matches in seventeen other events. She’s coming into Warsaw on a six-match losing streak. Against Anna Bondar, who has really established herself as a main tour regular, this form likely won’t cut it.
Prediction: Bondar in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
