The WTA Tour shifts to its grass season as 32 women have descended upon Nottingham, Great Britain, for the 2023 Rothesay Open. This event is back for its eighth edition and welcomes some of the world’s best looking to prepare for the third Slam of the season. A very intriguing battle between No. 4 seed Donna Vekic and Cristina Busca kicks off what should be a competitive grass event. We at LWOT have the preview and prediction for that match and all other happenings around the grounds of Nottingham, including predictions for four matches in a separate article. But who will advance?
WTA Nottingham Day 1 Predictions
Camila Giorgi vs Madison Brengle
Head-to-Head: Giorgi 3-3 Brengle
Camila Giorgi and Madison Brengle will meet in Round 1 in Nottingham, looking to gain an advantage in their current 3-3 head-to-head deadlock. They have split their previous two meetings on grass. Giorgi comes into this match as the No. 7 seed and the much better player during the 2023 season. Giorgi also has a better career record on grass. All signs point to the Italian rolling through this match in straight sets.
Prediction: Giorgi in 2
Magdalena Frech vs Sonay Kartal
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Magdalena Frech had a solid clay-court season that saw her post a 9-4 record over her last 13 matches. She is playing with confidence as the Tour transitions to her favorite surface, grass. Frech will take on world No. 277 Sonay Kartal in Round 1. The 21-year-old Brit is 0-2 in her career at the Tour level but has dominated in ITF events over the last three seasons. She holds a 19-6 record in 2023 but has yet to beat (or play) a player ranked inside the top 100. I believe the level that Frech brings will bother Kartal and force her into an uncharacteristically high amount of unforced errors.
Prediction: Frech in 3
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Lin Zhu vs Alycia Parks
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Lin Zhu has been dealing with an ankle injury and has played just four matches since the beginning of March. She has lost all of them. 22-year-old American Alycia Parks has had an up-and-down transition as a full-time Tour player this season. She has minimal experience on the grass, but her aggressive play style should lend itself to the surface. Zhu does not have much success on the grass and will have trouble fending off the power of Parks.
Prediction: Parks in 2
Donna Vekic vs Cristina Bucsa
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Donna Vekic will be ecstatic as the Tour transitions to her favorite surface. The No. 4 seed comes to Nottingham having won just four matches since the start of April but will feel as if she is the favorite every time she steps on a grass court. 25-year-old Cristina Bucsa comes into this encounter having lost her last five matches. She has also never won a grass-court match at the Tour level. Vekic should control the pace of play and roll to a straight-set victory.
Prediction: Vekic in 2
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
