It promises to be another great day of WTA Cincinnati tennis. 2018 Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki is among the top players in action. Her battle against Anhelina Kalinina is one of four matches predicted in this article. We at LWOT predict all the other WTA Cincinnati matches on the slate in separate articles. But which players do you expect to progress?
WTA Cincinnati Day 2 Predictions
Peyton Stearns vs Paula Badosa
Head-to-head: First meeting
Badosa won her first title in over two years at the Citi DC Open over a week ago. However, she needs to shake off a tough loss in Toronto against the 2017 French Open champion, Jelena Ostapenko, losing after serving for the match. Stearns had a good week in Toronto, losing to the eventual champion Jessica Pegula. This is a tough match to call between two aggressive baseline hitters. I slightly favor Stearns overall, who can manage Badosa’s variation and likes to mix in some heavy topspin shots to her raw power.
Prediction: Stearns in 3
Karolina Muchova vs Dayana Yastremska
Head-to-head: Muchova 3-0 Yastremska
The head-to-head between these two is slightly misleading since they have not played since 2019. Yastremska’s struggles since her run to the Australian Open are less misleading. She needs a few good victories in a row to regain her confidence. This will be Muchova’s first hard-court match since last year’s US Open after returning a few months ago from a long injury. Yet, I still favor the Czech’s variety and complete game to overcome Yastremska, who has been so inconsistent.
Prediction: Muchova in 3
Liudmila Samsonova vs Xinyu Wang
Head-to-head: Samsonova 1-0 Wang
Wang proved how devastating she can be during her victory at Wimbledon last month against Jessica Pegula. It could be tough to do that against Samsonova, though. The Russian possesses one of the best serves in women’s tennis, and the fast conditions in Cincinnati suit her style perfectly. Wang might win more of the baseline exchanges, but she will probably still lose the match due to her opponent’s serve.
Prediction: Samsonova in 2
Caroline Wozniacki vs Anhelina Kalinina
Head-to-head: Kalinina 2-0 Wozniacki
Wozniacki has lost twice to Kalinina this year. The first was a very close battle in Indian Wells, while the other was a heavier defeat on the green clay courts in Charleston. Wozniacki will hope to redirect Kalinina’s pace effectively to win this time. The conditions could work against her, though. Kalinina almost lost to Wozniacki in Indian Wells because the Dane got several balls into play in slow, gritty conditions. The faster courts in Ohio might make it easier to hit through Wozniacki this time.
Prediction: Kalinina in 3
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
