The WTA Tour is back after the US Open with events in Guadalajara and Monastir. The 2024 Jasmin Open begins its main draw action on Monday as second seed Clara Burel takes on Marina Bassols Ribera. The Spaniard pulled off an upset over this opponent not that long ago and will aim to do it again. We also predict the rest of Monday’s matches in a separate article. Who do you think will prevail?
WTA Monastir Day 1 Predictions
Priska Nugroho vs Mai Hontama
Head-to-head: First meeting
It’s tough to estimate where Priska Nugroho’s game is at the moment. The Indonesian was a talented junior, winning the 2020 Australian Open in girls’ doubles with Alexandra Eala, and has produced a very solid winrate of 34-12 on the ITF Tour this year. She remains untested against higher-level opposition though, facing a Top 300 player just once this year (she owns one Top 200 win from 2022). Mai Hontama knows how to make he opponents play and should have a bit too much for Nugroho with her seasoned game.
Prediction: Hontama in 2
Anna Blinkova vs Sara Sorribes Tormo
Head-to-head: Blinkova 2-1
It’s surprising how much Sara Sorribes Tormo has been struggling of late and despite some great results in the Madrid/Rome double earlier this year, she’s now out of the Top 100. But Anna Blinkova is on a losing run herself and will be looking for her first win since the grass season (eight losses in a row). Something will have to give here and while both players should like this opportunity, the way Blinkova played in her last two matches at Cleveland and the US Open just isn’t going to cut it.
Prediction: Sorribes Tormo in 3
Clara Burel vs Marina Bassols Ribera
Head-to-head: Bassols Ribera 1-0
Marina Bassols Ribera produced a pretty big upset over Clara Burel around this time last year (indoor hard ITF in Rouen). The Spaniard is pretty close to a Top 100 debut and recently qualified for the US Open, giving Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova a fairly tough challenge. But now the question is whether she can stun Burel again. The French second seed has been quite up and down this year, but she has a versatile game with plenty of options to put pressure on Bassols Ribera or grind her down if needed.
Prediction: Burel in 2
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
