The remaining first-round matches will be played on Tuesday, Day 2 at the 2023 WTA Libema Open in Den Bosch, Netherlands. Bianca Andreescu takes on qualifier Zeynep Sonmez in her first encounter on grass this year. Will the 6th seed progress smoothly? Who do you think will come out on top? We also look at the rest of the day’s matches, including Venus Williams’, in a separate article.
WTA Den Bosch Day 2 Predictions
Polina Kudermetova vs Yue Yuan
Head-to-head: First meeting
This will be Polina Kudermetova’s first grass-court professional match, although that doesn’t quite tell the full story. The 20-year-old made the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in the juniors and has a big game that could really benefit from quicker courts. She definitely lost some momentum over the course of the clay season, but Yue Yuan is a fairly good draw for her on this surface.
Prediction: Kudermetova in 3
Aliaksandra Sasnovich vs Lucrezia Stefanini
Head-to-head: First meeting
Aliaksandra Sasnovich’s 2023 campaign has been very disappointing and winning just two games against Clara Tauson at the French Open won’t boost her confidence. Grass was never really her surface, but the Belarusian can be dangerous anywhere. Playing Lucrezia Stefanini, who has less experience on these courts and was also blown out at Roland Garros, should be a nice opportunity for her to grab a much-needed win.
Prediction: Sasnovich in 2
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Elise Mertens vs Priscilla Hon
Head-to-head: First meeting
Elise Mertens had a great run at the French Open and is more or less back to the deadly consistency she’s known for. Conditions on grass aren’t her favorite, but that didn’t stop her from reaching the second week at Wimbledon twice. She’s probably advancing past Priscilla Hon as well. The Australian got into the event as a lucky loser, but her luck might have just run out with a tough opponent here.
Prediction: Mertens in 2
Katie Volynets vs Caty McNally
Head-to-head: McNally 3-0
They’re playing for the third time this year and will now have a grass, hard, and clay meeting. Katie Volynets managed a set on the dirt, but was demolished when they met in Mexico. Caty McNally was injured recently, but if she’s healthy this is a great matchup for her on grass. Her aggressive all-court style is something that Volynets will struggle to respond to in faster conditions.
Prediction: McNally in 2
Bianca Andreescu vs Zeynep Sonmez
Head-to-head: First meeting
Zeynep Sonmez is having a breakthrough ITF campaign this year with a title in Tallinn and plenty of quarterfinal appearances. She’s done well to qualify here, defeating Sachia Vickery and Ekaterina Makarova. This is probably the end of the road though, provided Bianca Andreescu will be healthy. You never quite know with the Canadian, but she can be deadly on grass when she’s firing and should have this one on her racket.
Prediction: Andreescu in 2
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
