Though the excitement of the Australian Open is only two days behind us, the WTA season grinds on with a 250 in Hua Hin. There are still plenty of intriguing matches going on in Thailand–we’ve tried to predict some of the best Day 2 action. As always, we at LWOT will preview and predict every match. We split the rest of the day’s matches between two other articles. One features Bianca Andreescu vs Harriet Dart, and the second highlights Marta Kostyuk vs En Shuo Liang.
WTA Hua Hin Day 2 Predictions
Anna Karolina Schmiedlova vs Anastasia Zakharova
Head-to-head: First meeting.
The young Russian Anastasia Zakharova doesn’t have a whole lot of experience playing on the main tour. In fact, when she has made her eight appearances in main draws, she’s lost on every occasion.
The players she’s lost to generally have established weapons fit for the Top 100. There’s a strong argument to be made that Anna Schmiedlova’s groundstrokes are worthy of consistent appearances at WTA events, even if she’s not quite at the level that took her to #26 in the world. Zakharova may struggle to keep up here.
Prediction: Schmiedlova in 2
Dayana Yastremska vs Moyuka Uchijima
Head-to-head: First meeting.
This is a tough one to call. Dayana Yastremska clearly has the higher peak but her form has been horrendous lately. Not only has she lost 11 of her last 12 matches, all of those losses have come in straight sets. If we cut the Ukranian a little slack, most of her opponents were ranked inside the Top 50–still this is pretty shocking given how big a ball Yastremska can hit.
Moyuka Uchijima should be able to capitalise. She’ll be well used to the conditions in Thailand and her movement will make the courts feel incredibly small to Yastremska. There might be some ebbs and flows but we think the Japanese is the safest bet.
Prediciton: Uchijima in 3
Heather Watson vs Yulia Putintseva
Head-to-head: Putintseva 2-1 Watson
Heather Watson is still putting together some of the pieces of her game. There’s flashes of brilliance but she maybe wants to get back to the top a little too much–her W60 final in Glasgow at the end of last year was evidence of this, blowing a set and 5-1 lead to Yuriko Miyazaki (who she went on to beat this year 6-0 6-3). Some of the Brit’s best is there but nerves have been getting in the way.
Yulia Putintseva is a nightmare to play if you’re feeling under-confident. A serve and a swing of the forehand won’t do the trick–Watson will need steady, repeatable aggression to find a way past the diminutive Kazakhstani. We don’t think Watson’s quite there yet.
Prediction: Putintseva in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
