Day 2 of the WTA Abu Dhabi Open is loaded with Grand Slam champions and finalists. Two-time Wimbledon runner-up Ons Jabeur is expected to receive majority of the crowd support when she takes on former French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko. That clash is one of seven on the slate on Tuesday. As always, we here at LWOT will cover every single one of those matches, including Emma Raducanu vs Marketa Vondrousova. So, who will advance into the second round?
WTA Abu Dhabi Day 2 Predictions
Magda Linette vs Renata Zarazua
Head-to-head: Linette 1-0 Zarazua
Linette is a proven grinder. Her match with Beatriz Haddad Maia in this tournament 12 months ago lasted for nearly four hours. But on the back of one of her poorest starts to the season, she should be considered a slight underdog here. Renata Zarazua dropped just six games in qualifying in Abu Dhabi and has shown better consistency since January.
Prediction: Zarazua in 3
Sofia Kenin vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
Head-to-head: Kenin 2-0 Pavlyuchenkova
For the second year in a row, Sofia Kenin needed to earn a main draw berth in Abu Dhabi from the qualifying rounds. The American was successful this time, toppling Aoi Ito and Veronika Kudermetova in straight sets. Pavlyuchenkova is coming off a highly satisfying quarterfinal finish at the Australian Open. It’s a match that Pavlyuchenkova should win but the Russian is notoriously prone to fluctuations in form after a big tournament.
Prediction: Kenin in 3
Ons Jabeur vs Jelena Ostapenko
Head-to-head: Jabeur 3-1 Ostapenko
Jabeur delivered her best result in this tournament 12 months ago as a quarterfinalist. But she is not seeded this time and will need to win two matches to equal her best showing. And her opener is one of the toughest. Plying Ostapnko on any surface calls for otherworldly defensive skills because of the enormous power she puts behind the ball. The Tunsisan is one the shrewdest and smartest women in the sport. Her craft will be enough to put the Latvian off.
Prediction: Jabeur in 3
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
