No. 3 seed Elise Mertens is the highest-ranked player at the WTA 250 in Osaka after the withdrawals of Magdalena Frech and Leylah Fernandez. The Belgian is now perceived as the main favorite to take the title, but can she live up to that status with her last final coming in January? She kicks off her campaign against Mai Hontama. We predict all of the day’s matches, split between this and two other articles–featuring Bianca Andreescu vs Greet Minnen and Ana Bogdan vs Veronika Kudermetova. Who do you think will win? Who do you think will prevail?
WTA Osaka Day 2 Predictions
Laura Siegemund vs Harriet Dart
Head-to-head: Siegemund 1-0
Laura Siegemund looked great in her qualifying campaign and despite 36 years of age, is still successfully combining a top doubles career and solid achievements in singles. Power-wise she definitely has the edge over Harriet Dart and she will be on top of the points in this one. The Brit also retired after just six games in Wuhan last week. Even if she’s fit, her game is much blander than Siegemund’s and she’ll be forced to hope that the veteran doesn’t deliver here.
Predictions: Siegemund in 2
Jessica Bouzas Maneiro vs Sara Saito
Head-to-head: First meeting
This is a big moment in Sara Saito’s career. While the Japanese has tried qualifying for Slams or the WTA 500 in Tokyo last year, this will be her tour-level debut. She’s also facing a Top 100 opponent for the first time in her career. The results she gathered on the ITF Tour, especially on clay in Europe this season, were quite impressive. She has to take it up a notch here and so far not much is suggesting she will. Jessica Bouzas Maneiro seems like she might be a class above at the moment.
Predictions: Bouzas Maneiro in 2
Elise Mertens vs Mai Hontama
Head-to-head: Mertens 1-0
Elise Mertens might not be one of the best players in the world anymore, but she keeps posting solid results and requires you to play at a very high standard if you want to beat her. Mai Hontama has once tried to take her down in the Monastir quarterfinals last year and didn’t manage to make it competitive. Things will probably be quite similar here and the playstyle of the Japanese should give Mertens a lot of freedom to work her way into the tournament.
Predictions: Mertens in 2
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
