It promises to be an entertaining first day at WTA Cincinnati with a number of entertaining of matches on the slate in Ohio – including the appearance of one of the sport’s legendary figures. As ever, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the slate–including Donna Vekic vs Sorana Cirstea and Marketa Vondrousova vs Jaqueline Cristian–but who will secure their spot in the second round?
WTA Cincinnati Day 1 Predictions
Maya Joint vs Greet Minnen
Head-to-head: first meeting
Maya Joint’s narrow loss in the first round in Montreal against McCartney Kessler does not take the shine off her breakthrough season so far. The Australian looks like she has a good chance of overcoming Greet Minnen, who tries to hit flat and aggressively in the rallies but comes into this match without much in the way of form. Joint also generally likes this sort of match-up, and she should be helped by this being Minnen’s first match since June and first on a hard court in months. Expect a comfortable win for the Australian.
Prediction: Joint in 2
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Anastasia Potapova vs Laura Siegemund
Head-to-head: Potapova 1-0 Siegemund
This could be one of the most brutal WTA contests of the season. Both women focus on extending the rallies and outgrinding their opponents. Wimbledon quarterfinalist Laura Siegemund possesses more variety, but Anastasia Potapova’s movement is probably more impressive – at least on a hard court. However, the Russian has lost both matches during the North American swing so far whereas Siegemund has won four (including in the qualifying this week), and her disruptive style of play may well throw Potapova off her game – exactly as Siegemund intends.
Prediction: Siegemund in 3
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Venus Williams vs Jessica Bouzas Maneiro
Head-to-head: first meeting
The opening round is probably the worst time to play Venus Williams. She played outstandingly against Peyton Stearns in Washington D.C. before being thrashed by Magdalena Frech in the next round. Still, although Williams’s natural talent makes another victory possible, Jessica Bouzas Manero is the favourite. The Spaniard arrives at WTA Cincinnati after an excellent run to the quarterfinal in Toronto. Her physical style could also wear down Williams, especially if it went to a third set.
Prediction: Bouzas Maneiro in 3
Main photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
