All eight seeds are still alive and well as move into Wednesday’s action in Tampico. Leading the charge are Elise Mertens and Leylah Fernandez, both of whom feature in this set of predictions. We have a second set of WTA Abierto Tampico day 2 predictions covering the other four matches taking place on Wednesday. So, be sure to look over that set once you’re done with these. With that in mind, let’s get into these four matches taking place on Wednesday in Tampico.
WTA Abierto Tampico Day 2 Predictions
Varvara Gracheva vs Lin Zhu
Head-to-head: First meeting
Varvara Gracheva seems to have found some form again after a torrid few months on the WTA Tour. The Russian has won four of her last five matches after winning just two of ten before then. She faces a tricky task here in Lin Zhu. However, most of the Chinese players success has come on the ITF and Challenger tours this season. Gracheva has played much of her tennis on the WTA Tour. She has struggled, but she’s also used to a far higher quality of tennis than Zhu is. I expect the Russian’s good form to continue with another win here in what should be a fun, closely fought contest.
Prediction: Gracheva in 3
Magda Linette vs Renata Zarazua
Head-to-head: 1 – 1
Renata Zarazua put a stop to any rumours of Eugenie Bouchard comeback early this week when she ousted the Canadian in three sets on Tuesday. However, the Mexican will need a far higher quality of tennis if she is to win again here against Magda Linette. The Pole is a solid player who can hit others off the court if she is feeling comfortable and confident. She lost a final in Chennai at the start of this month, so her confidence should certainly be high here. Linette is two good off the ground for me to see Zarazua pulling off an upset here. It might be close, but Linette should win in the end.
Prediction: Linette in 2
Leylah Fernandez vs Xiaodi You
Head-to-head: First meeting
Xiaodi You has done little of note in her career so far, with ITF titles in 2019 and 2020 being the sum of her successes at this level. She faces a very talented youngster in Leylah Fernandez. The young Canadian has had a relatively quiet year and will be keen to remind the tennis world just how dangerous she can be. A title run here would go some way towards doing that given the depth of the draw in Tampico. Whether she wins the title or not, Fernandez certainly has more than enough to her game to win comfortably here against an inferior opponent in You.
Prediction: Fernandez in 2
Elise Mertens vs Ashlyn Krueger
Head-to-head: First meeting
Elise Mertens appears to be returning to her best after a quiet few months in the middle of the year. She faces a tough test here in young American Ashlyn Krueger. Mertens is the top seed in the tournament and is fresh of a title in Monastir last week. As such, she will be full of confidence in her abilities to go back-to-back this week in Tampico. Krueger looked solid in her first round win against Aldila Sutjiadi, but will need to be far better here against an opponent nearly 500 ranking spots higher up. Mertens at her best is one of the better women’s players in the game and she is currently there or there abouts. She should win this comfortably enough if she maintains her recent level of play in this one.
Prediction: Mertens in 2
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
