As the Australian Open ends, first-round action at WTA Cluj-Napoca begins on Sunday with four matches. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the slate, but who will advance to the next round?
WTA Cluj-Napoca Day 1 Predictions
Antonia Ruzic vs Yuan Yue
Head-to-head: Ruzic 1-0 Yuan
Antonia Ruzic and Yuan Yue came up short at the Australian Open, losing to top-tier competition. The Croatian was beaten by former champion Naomi Osaka in three tight sets, but Yuan played some inspired tennis before falling to Iga Swiatek 6-7 3-6. Ruzic has the higher upside and her career is on an upward trajectory. That said, Yuan is capable of producing flashes of solid tennis on hard courts and if her baseline level holds up, she may well have this match on her racket.
Prediction: Yuan in 3
Sara Sorribes Tormo vs Viktoriya Tomova
Head-to-head: Sorribes Tormo 1-1 Tomova
Sara Sorribes Tormo is building her ranking after her documented hiatus in 2025. It was not until the end of the last season that she announced her return and competed in three 125K level tournaments. The Spaniard has started the new season competing in two ITF events, but has hardly impressed, losing at the first hurdle each time. Tomova hasn’t hit the ground running either, although she has faced a higher baseline of opposition at the Tour level and that could matter in the outcome of this match.
Prediction: Tomova in 2
Ella Seidel vs Anna Bondar
Head-to-head: Seidel 1-2 Bondar
Ella Seidel reached the quarterfinals of this tournament as a qualifier 12 months ago. Her game is rapidly developing, and she enjoyed a ranking surge in the past year. Seidel didn’t need to go through the rigors of qualifying this time and will enjoy a fresh start in the main draw. Anna Bondar, however, has looked in better form at the start of the season and outplayed the German when they met in Hobart less than two weeks ago. The Hungarian is poised to replicate that result, but the indoor setting might give Seidel the lift off she needs to make this competitive.
Prediction: Bondar in 3
Mayar Sherif vs Oleksandra Oliynykova
Head-to-head: Sherif 0-2 Oliynykova
Oleksnadra Oliynykova played 91 matches in the whole of 2025. So it’s mildly surprising that she has only featured once in 2026. She lost to Madison Keys on her Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open. Mayar Sherif was last in action in the Australian Open qualifying, where she shockingly lost in the opening round. While both players have formidable clay-court records on the lower tiers, the indoor conditions should favor Oliynykova’s aggressive style.
Prediction: Oliynykova in 2
Main photo credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
