The WTA Tour returns to Rabat, Morocco for the first time since 2019 for this 250 event. It is one of two WTA tour-level events this week ahead of Roland Garros. 32 women enter the main draw looking for a title, including Nuria Parrizas Diaz, who takes on Carol Zhao on Day 2.
WTA Rabat Day 2 Predictions
Lulu Sun vs Arantxa Rus
Head-to-Head: First meeting
#7 seed Arantxa Rus comes into this event having won an ITF25 event in early May. She has not experienced much Tour-level success this season but has played in seven events. That is more than 21-year-old Lulu Sun can say. Sun is currently ranked #287 in the world and has spent her early professional career on the ITF Circuit. Arantxa Rus is an experienced clay-court player who holds good form. I see her winning this match handily.
Prediction: Rus in 2
Xiaodi You vs Martina Trevisan
Head-to-Head: First meeting
Xiaodi You won both of her qualifying matches in straight sets to set up this Round 1 matchup against Martina Trevisan. You has mainly done her work on the ITF Circuit this season and will relish this opportunity in a Tour-level main draw. Martina Trevisan has had an up and down season that sees her as the current World #82. With that said, she has looked good during the clay season, even in the matches she has lost. I think this should be a closely contested battle.
Prediction: Trevisan in 3
Kristina Kucova vs Catherine Harrison
Head-to-Head: Harrison leads 1-0
Kristina Kucova and Catherine Harrison are both looking for a much-needed European clay-court victory. Kucova, who has a history of playing well on the clay, is just 1-2 overall on the surface this season. Catherine Harrison has spent the majority of her season playing ITF matches back in the United States so it will be interesting to see how her level changes over the Atlantic. Kucova should be the favorite here, but Harrison did win their only meeting last season as Kucova retired after a first set loss.
Prediction: Kucova in 3
Anna Karolina Schmiedlova vs Ekaterina Reyngold
Head-to-Head: First meeting
Ekaterina Reyngold worked her way through qualifiers to get to the main draw but has a tough Round 1 match on her hands against former World Top 30 Anna Karolina Schmiedlova. Karolina Schmiedlova holds a 4-5 clay-court record this season and would really benefit from a strong finish this week ahead of Roland Garros. This is 21-year-old Ekaterina Reyngold’s first tour-level tournament. She will be happy to be here, but not with this result.
Prediction: Karolina Schmiedlova in 2
Nuria Parrizas-Diaz vs Carol Zhao
Head-to-Head: Parrizas Diaz leads 1-0
#3 seed Nuria Parrizas-Diaz should see this opportunity in Rabat as a chance to grab her second tour-level title in what is a weakened field ahead of Roland Garros. The Spaniard lost a hard-fought Round 2 match last week in Rome against Bianca Andreescu. Carol Zhao has certainly worn in the courts in Rabat having played two, three-set matches in qualifiers to reach the main draw. The 26-year-old has just one career main draw tour-level victory. I do not see her picking up number two in Rabat.
Prediction: Parrizas-Diaz in 2
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