This week’s WTA event in Hua Hin is a great opportunity for many players to win a rare WTA level title, what with #35 Dayana Yastremska being the #1 seed. Despite the absence of top players, it should still be a very exciting tournament with everyone doing their best to achieve perhaps the most significant result of their career to date. We also predict the rest of the day’s matches in a separate article.
WTA Hua Hin Day 2 Predictions
Sijia Wei vs Xinyu Gao
Head-to-head: Gao 2-0 Wei
Both players had a great run through qualifying and will be plenty motivated and confident ahead of this first round match. Both of their previous matchups were won by the lower ranked Gao, suggesting that she has the edge in the matchup against her compatriot. This one should be closer than their previous confrontations, but Gao is likely to eventually come through again.
Prediction: Gao in 3
Nadia Podoroska vs Ksenia Laskutova
Head-to-head: first meeting
On paper, this is arguably the most one-sided match of the day; Podoroska is on a bad three match losing streak, but she is facing the #366 here and should have a very clear edge. Laskutova had a very fortunate run through qualifying, playing only one unfinished match, and she should be a bit overmatched at this level.
Prediction: Podoroska in 2
Xinyu Wang vs Mayar Sherif
Head-to-head: Sherif 1-0 Wang
Sherif won their previous match, but she has been really struggling lately, coming into this tournament on the back of three consecutive losses. Wang hasn’t exactly been in hot form lately either, but she has definitely been playing at a higher level than Sherif and going by current form she should have the edge here and make it through.
Prediction: Wang in 2
Mananchaya Sawangkaew vs Rebecca Sramkova
Head-to-head: first meeting
Sramkova had a great run last week in Monastir, making it all the way to the final before losing to Kartal. Sawangkaew also had a very nice campaign in qualifying to make it to this main draw, but Sramkova has clearly been at a higher level recently and should be able to prevail here, even if it should be a close match.
Prediction: Sramkova in 3
Dayana Yastremska vs Mai Hontama
Head-to-head: first meeting
Yastremska is the #1 seed of this tournament and perhaps the favorite to win it, but she is on a 4-match losing streak and is far from a lock even against far lower ranked opponent. Still, in this particular matchup with Hontama, she should have a very clear edge against the world #130.
Prediction: Yastremska in 2
Main Photo Credit: Angela Wilhelm USAToday Sports Syndication: Asheville Citizen-Times
