Main draw action at the 2025 WTA Upper Austria Ladies Open in Linz begins on Monday with two singles matches. Viktoriya Tomova will take on Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, while Sorana Cirstea faces Arantxa Rus. Indoor tennis doesn’t take up a big part of the WTA Tour schedule right now, so let’s enjoy it while it lasts. Who do you think will advance to the next stage of the event?
WTA Linz Day 1 Predictions
Greet Minnen vs Anastasia Zakharova
Head-to-head: Minnen 1-0
This is a final round of qualifying encounter. Anastasia Zakharova is progressing nicely and will probably move into the Top 100 soon but at least in the last few years, she wasn’t competing indoors often. Greet Minnen has a more natural game for these conditions with her dynamic inside-out forehand and should be viewed as the favorite here. She also had the more impressive performance of the two on Sunday when she beat Rebeka Masarova.
Prediction: Minnen in 2
Viktorija Golubic vs Sinja Kraus
Head-to-head: First meeting
This is a final round of qualifying encounter. Viktorija Golubic hasn’t played this event in years, but was the runner-up all the way back in 2016. Her form skyrocketed again at the tail end of 2024 with the Jiujiang title and then another tournament win in Limoges. Seems like she hasn’t lost any of that after blasting through Australian Open qualifying and missing chances to beat Elise Mertens in the opening round. If she can keep it up, Sinja Kraus shouldn’t be a massive challenge.
Prediction: Golubic in 2
Viktoriya Tomova vs Jessica Bouzas Maneiro
Head-to-head: First meeting
Viktoriya Tomova is looking for her first win of the season after going 0-3 in the Australian swing. She didn’t even manage to take a set against Renata Zarazua, Greet Minnen, and Daria Kasatkina. We can’t feel confident that this disappointing form will last the entire season for the Bulgarian, but it’s not a good sign ahead of a tournament where the conditions don’t suit her consistent game anyway. Jessica Bouzas Maneiro should feel high on confidence right now after almost taking a set off eventual runner-up Aryna Sabalenka in Melbourne.
Prediction: Bouzas Maneiro in 3
Sorana Cirstea vs Arantxa Rus
Head-to-head: Cirstea 3-0
Sorana Cirstea has recently said that 2025 “might” be her last season on the tour and that’s related to all the injury struggles she’s been through recently. Her previous campaign ended at Wimbledon and the Romanian couldn’t snatch a set in her comeback matches against Jule Niemeier and Elina Svitolina in the Australian swing. But this should be a good opportunity to grab a premier win. Arantxa Rus simply doesn’t enjoy indoor conditions quite as much as the Romanian.
Prediction: Cirstea in 3
Main Photo Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports
