The action continues at the WTA 1000 in Beijing as Day 2 offers a lineup of intriguing storylines and matches. As always, we here at LWOT predict each and every match, this featuring four matches. We also predict the rest of the day’s matches, split between three other articles. Those articles feature Karolina Muchova vs Anna Blinkova, Ajla Tomljanovic vs Camila Osorio, and Viktorija Golubic vs Xiyu Wang. Who do you back to progress?
WTA Beijing Day 2 Predictions
Moyuka Uchijima vs Han Shi
Head-to-Head: First meeting
Uchijama had a forgettable introduction to the Asian swing after failing to win more than one game in both sets against Arienne Hartono in round one at the Thailand Open last week. She would hope to bounce back here against a relatively younger opponent making her debut in a tour level match. Han Shi has progressed nicely through a few ITF events over the summer and will have the crowd behind her from the jump, whether that would be enough to secure her first win at this level is highly unlikely.
Prediction: Uchijima in 2
Yafan Wang vs Ashlyn Krueger
Head-to-Head: Krueger 1-0 Wang
Ashlyn Krueger got the better of Wang when they met on the grass courts of Nottingham earlier this season in straight sets. She would meet steeper resistance here as Wang Yafan plays better on hard courts, recently making a run to the fourth round at the US Open. Playing in front of her home crowd should give her the necessary boost to get her revenge and level the head to head in this match.
Prediction: Wang in 3
Xinxin Yao vs Cristina Bucsa
Head-to-Head: First Meeting
Cristina Bucsa’s season has been one she will no doubt like to forget in a hurry. She hasn’t won back to back matches at a tour level event since her third round finish in Bogota in April. Both players will fancy their chances of getting a win here but Bucsa’s experience at this level should give her a slight edge. She will equally be motivated to turn the tide on her overall performance in the year so far and give herself the chance to maintain her current position in the top 100 of the women’s rankings.
Prediction: Bucsa in 2
Harriet Dart vs Clara Tauson
Head-to-Head Tauson 1-0 Dart
There isn’t much separating these two players and both will start off believing they can win here. Dart has had a relatively better time on court in recent months with, with Tauson riding a seven match losing streak at some point between the French Open and Cincinnati. She has won two matches since then but got off to a slow start last week in Thailand. Dart hasn’t played since the US Open and she might need more than a few games to shake off the rust, as long as she finds her rhythm quickly enough she should be able to level the head to head.
Prediction: Dart in 3
Main Photo Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
