There is a busy second day of action at WTA Cluj-Napoca. Two-time Grand Slam finalist Karolina Pliskova is the biggest name set to take to the court. Eight matches are scheduled for day 2. Four of these are predicted in this article, and the other matches are predicted in a separate article – including Tatjana Maria vs Zhouoxuan Bai. Which players do you think will win in Cluj-Napoca?
WTA Cluj-Napoca Day 2 Predictions
Harriet Dart vs Anna Bondar
Head-to-Head: Bondar 1-0 Dart
This is a great opportunity for both players to get a valuable WTA main draw win. Dart started the season brightly by reaching the final of the Canberra Challenger but she subsequently failed to qualify for the Australian Open and the WTA 500 in Linz, although she did come through qualifying in Cluj-Napoca. Bondar has been struggling even more and she is in the Cluj-Napoca main draw as a lucky loser. Yet, I am still backing the Hungarian in this one. Her aggressive playing style is capable of disrupting Dart, who thrives most when she has time on her shots.
Prediction: Bondar in 3
Anca Todoni vs Erika Andreeva
Head-to-Head: First meeting
Andreeva is ranked outside the Top 100. However, she looked very sharp in the qualifying stages for the main draw. This included a 6-0 6-0 triumph in her first-round of qualifying. Todoni is currently outside the Top 200 and is certainly the underdog heading into this contest. She will have home support behind her on Centre Court in Romania, who will do what they can to lift her. But it is unlikely that she will have enough to get past Andreeva, who is enjoying playing in the conditions in Cluj-Napoca.
Prediction: Andreeva in 2
Anastasija Sevastova vs Andreea Mitu
Head-to-Head: First meeting
Both players will view this as a massive opportunity to get a WTA main draw win. Sevastova is a former world No. 11, but took a long sabbatical away from tennis. The 33-year-old only recently returned to the sport and is currently ranked outside the Top 600. Home favourite Mitu is the world No. 170 and is 32-years-old. Will she get many more chances to beat a former world No. 11 in front of her home fans? It seems very unlikely. This is a very difficult one to call, but I will back enough of Sevastova’s old class to still be there to claim victory.
Prediction: Sevastova in 3
Karolina Pliskova vs Sinja Kraus
Head-to-Head: First meeting
Although the tournament in Cluj-Napoca is a valuable one, Pliskova playing in it demonstrates her struggles. The Czech has not been to the final of a WTA event since 2021 and has tumbled down the rankings since being the runner-up at Wimbledon that year. Kraus defeated two seeded players in qualifying to make it to this stage. Hence, she will be used to the conditions, and this could be a tricky contest for Pliskova. Overall, the two-time Grand Slam runner-up should still prevail against the world No. 188, but expect it to be competitive.
Prediction: Pliskova in 2
Main Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea – USA TODAY Sports
