Iga Swiatek sealing her fourth French Open title brought an end to the women’s clay-court season. The attention now turns to the first week of the pre-Wimbledon grass court tournaments. One of these is in Nottingham, where local player Katie Boulter is the reigning champion. She begins her title defense on the opening day against fellow Briton Harriet Dart. We at LWOT predict that match and all the others taking place in Nottingham, including Karolina Pliskova vs Alycia Parks. Which players do you think will prevail on Day 1?
WTA Nottingham Day 1 Predictions
Clara Burel vs Daria Saville
Head-to-head: Saville 1-0 Burel
Both players build their games around consistency and being good defenders. Neither woman tends to play their best tennis on grass, with Saville generally struggling on the surface even in her prime. Burel is the favourite to progress in Nottingham, despite preferring to compete on clay. Saville is not as quick as she once was, which will make beating a player like Burel difficult, especially on grass.
Prediction: Burel in 2
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Cristina Bucsa vs Diane Parry
Head-to-head: First Meeting
Parry is another player who generally likes playing on clay the most, but there is a lot in her game that works well on grass. She slices most of her backhands, has a strong serve, and is capable of playing the net. Bucsa’s flat shots will be a challenge, but the Frenchwoman should back herself to come through this contest. Her Spanish opponent thrives most when her opponent offers a consistent speed and spin. Parry will not allow that, due to the combination of her heavy topspin forehand and backhand slice, which makes her the favourite.
Prediction: Parry in 2
Katie Boulter vs Harriet Dart
Head-to-head: Boulter 5-1 Dart
Boulter defeated Dart in straight sets on her way to the title in Nottingham last year. This is still a tricky opening-round match for the defending champion. Dart, like Boulter, possesses an aggressive and powerful style that is often tough to play against. Nonetheless, Boulter is still a considerable favourite. She is an excellent player on grass, and her big-hitting is more formidable than Dart’s when her game is flowing.
Prediction: Boulter in 2
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Main Photo Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran – USA TODAY Sports
