The first round of the 2023 WTA Livesport Prague Open will wrap up on Tuesday, Day 2 of the event, with ten singles matches on the schedule. Lin Zhu is seeded second in this event, but she drew the short straw in the resurgent Yanina Wickmayer. We predict five of the matches in this article, and five more in a separate article. Who do you think will prevail?
WTA Prague Day 2 Predictions
Barbora Palicova vs Emiliana Arango
Head-to-head: First meeting
Barbora Palicova is usually getting wild cards for this event and she had a couple of spectacular wins in the qualifying last year. Now starting from the main draw and she’s got a favorable draw against Emiliana Arango, who’s more of a clay-court specialist. The question is whether Palicova’s poor form will allow her to capitalize on this change. Along with the crowd support it probably should, but it might not be that easy.
Prediction: Palicova in 2
Lucrezia Stefanini vs Kaia Kanepi
Head-to-head: First meeting
Kaia Kanepi is now 38 years old but still surviving on the main tour, although recently she had to drop down to the ITF level a few times. Lucrezia Stefanini was in the Warsaw quarterfinals last week, losing a thriller against Laura Siegemund. The Italian has a solid game with the two-handed forehand and will ask Kanepi some tough questions. The Estonian still has the higher peak though and seems to be doing better the last few weeks.
Prediction: Kanepi in 3
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Xiyu Wang vs Clara Tauson
Head-to-head: First meeting
Clara Tauson’s talent and easy power can still take her far in this sport, but she needs to be healthy for that to happen. Last week, she was playing with lots of tape on her knee. Xiyu Wang’s lefty spin can be tough to handle and the 20-year-old will have to be on top of her game from the very first match here. It’s kind of impossible to pick against her though as she just carries way too much potential.
Prediction: Tauson in 2
Barbora Strycova vs Ankita Raina
Head-to-head: First meeting
It’s unclear what exactly Barbora Strycova can do at this stage of her career, but her singles performances this year so far were actually all very decent. She’s also coming off winning Wimbledon in the doubles. Ankita Raina has a decent all-court game but she got blown off the court by Dayana Yastremska in the qualifying and probably doesn’t have enough power to seriously derail Strycova here.
Prediction: Strycova in 3
Yanina Wickmayer vs Lin Zhu
Head-to-head: 1-1
The main question with Yanina Wickmayer is going to be her fitness. The 33-year-old was still in Warsaw on Sunday, playing the last few games of her singles semifinal and taking the doubles title. The resurgence of the former World No. 12 has been one of the stories of the year and her relentless aggression was a brilliant watch against top-quality opposition last week. Lin Zhu could be in trouble if Wickmayer channels that level again.
Prediction: Wickmayer in 3
Main Photo Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports
