Play gets underway at the Hobart International in New Zealand with an a slew of WTA players eager to get matches ahead of the Australian Open. Czech teenager Linda Fruhvirtova, and Chinese rising star Zhu Lin and home favorite Daria Saville will be in action on Monday. We also look at the rest of the day’s matches in a separate article. Who will move on?
WTA Hobart International Day 1 Predictions
Linda Fruhvirtova vs Arantxa Rus
This is the second meeting between left-handed veteran Arantxa Rus and the Czech teenager Linda Fruhvirtova. In their first meeting Fruhvirtova got the upper hand, with a decisive win last fall in Bejing. Rus will be looking to even the head-to-head and post a win before the Australian Open. But depend on Fruhvirtova to bring her best game as she draws on memories of reaching the fourth round down under in 2023.Prediction: Fruhvirtova in 3
Lin Zhu vs Lucia Bronzetti
Italian Lucia Bronzetti made her top 50 debut at the beginning of 2023 after helping Italy reach the final in the inaugural United Cup. She’s confident on clay and her maiden WTA title came at the Morocco Open last season. But she’s no slouch on hard courts either, ousting Barbora Krejcikova at the US Open last fall. Both players are coming from Brisbane, where Zhu posted a win over American Danielle Collins before falling to finalist Aryna Sabalenka. With her best results on hard courts and during the recent Asian swing, including the final at Osaka and semifinal at Zhuhai, No. 3 seed Zhu has the edge in the duo’s first meeting.
Prediction: Zhu in 2
Anna Blinkova vs Daria Saville
Australian Daria Saville is still on the comeback trail after her second ACL surgery 2022 and a lackluster 2023 season. Saville posted a decisive win over Yaystremska at Brisbane last week before falling in a grueling three-hour match against Anastasia Potapova. Blinkova started 2024 with a loss and this will be her first meeting with Saville, whose current rank of 209 is deceiving. With her never-say-die attitude, Saville is eager to post wins and will have the crowd behind her so close to home.
Prediction: Saville in 3
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
