The action continues in Caja Magica, bringing us the first WTA 1000 of the clay season. Could the faster conditions threaten Swiatek and play into Sabalenka’s cards? As always, we here at LWOT will preview and predict every match. Who do you think will win?
WTA Madrid Day 2 Predictions
Alycia Parks vs Anna Karolina Schmiedlova
Head-to-head: Schmiedlova 1-0 Parks
Parks has shown that she has the game to blow anyone off the court on her day with her Lyon title run but unfortunately, the American is yet to find success in outdoor conditions, let alone clay. The faster conditions do make it her best chance at a good result on European clay this year but I still believe that a patient defender and strong retriever like Schmiedlova will make Parks play enough to force errors out of the young American.
Predictions: Schmiedlova in 2
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Danka Kovinic vs Sara Errani
Head-to-head: first meeting
The first meeting between these two clay-specialist tour veterans, with Errani recently experiencing a renaissance after a few years of struggling to get out of the ITF level. Kovinic had an impressive run to start the year in Auckland, struggled for the rest of the hard court season but has found her groove again as she won the stacked ITF 100 in Oeiras including wins over Marie Bouzkova, Sara Sorribes Tormo, and Eugenie Bouchard before she beat Rebeka Masarova in the final. Errani reached the final of San Luis Potosi to start the month but took early losses in Bogota and the aforementioned ITF in Oeiras before qualifying in Madrid with wins over Kristina Mladenovic and Jodie Burrage. It should be a close match that has the potential to devolve into a three-and-a-half hour grindfest between the two but Kovinic’s form makes her a favorite for me.
Predictions: Kovinic in 3
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Alize Cornet vs Elena-Gabriela Ruse
Head-to-head: Cornet 1-0 Ruse
After a year full of highlights for Alize Cornet in 2022, this year has been radio silence. Since starting her year with a win over Maria Carle at the United Cup, Cornet is yet to win a tour match against a ranked opponent, only beating Fiona Crawley in Charleston and Harriet Dart in BJK Cup. Ruse was in poor form coming into Madrid, losing three straight first rounds at the ITF level without winning a set (albeit one loss was to Elina Svitolina). The Romanian came back from a set down against Ysaline Bonaventure and beat Leolie Jeanjean to qualify, that bit of momentum making her a slight favorite here against a floundering Cornet.
Predictions: Ruse in 2
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Nadia Podoroska vs Laura Siegemund
Head-to-head: Podoroska 1-0 Siegemund
Both players are coming into the clay season desperate for a big result as they sit outside of the Top 100 right now. Siegemund qualified with straight-set wins over Viktoria Hruncakova (neé Kuzmova) and Kamilla Rakhimova while Podoroska is coming off of a semifinal run at ITF Chiasso. Siegemund’s style works very well against big hitters but a defender like Podoroska should be able to outlast her.
Predictions: Podoroska in 3
