On the back of two massive events, the WTA 500 in Strasbourg acts as a spacer before jumping right back into the fray of the French Open. Don’t let your guard down though, there are still some big names looking to warm up before contesting for the second Slam of the year, including former world #2 Barbora Krejcikova and this year’s Dubai WTA 1000 finalist Anna Kalinskaya. We’ve looked to predict their matches and others on the second day of action in Strasbourg. We split all the day’s matches between this and a separate article.
WTA Strasbourg Day 2 Predictions
Xinyu Wang vs Anna Kalinskaya
Head-to-head: Kalinskaya 2-0 Wang
Anna Kalinskaya’s run to the final of Dubai was no fluke. The Russian is a huge hitter and has beaten some of the best players in the world by virtue of her massive weaponry. Where she can fall short, however, is in her clay court pedigree.
Fortunately for her, Xinyu Wang isn’t the most comfortable on clay either. Both players will be forced to play a little outside of their comfort zone and, given the match-up, it’s more likely Kalinskaya will better adapt.
Prediction: Kalinskaya in 2
Emma Navarro vs Alize Cornet
Head-to-head: Navarro 1-0 Cornet
Emma Navarro deserves her spot at #22 in the world. She’s a great blender of aggression and patience, just the kind of player that should be comfortable on the slower courts of Strasbourg.
Alize Cornet’s game isn’t quite flowing the way it used to plus she’s never loved the high bounce of a clay court at her best. Navarro should be in safe hands here as she’ll demand just a little too much power of the Frenchwoman.
Prediction: Navarro in 2
Magda Linette vs Sorana Cirstea
Head-to-head: Cirstea 3-2 Linette
Sorana Cirstea is a great striker of the ball but, when things are slowed down and more point construction is required, the wheels can come off if she’s off her game. At her best, she does have the capability to take matters into her own hands, however.
It’s a question of form as Magda Linette will likely allow Cirstea to dictate the outcome of many of the points. A lot of Linette’s recent results have been very encouraging whilst Cirstea’s have been up and down so we’re tempted to side with the Pole.
Prediction: Linette in 3
Barbora Krejcikova vs Liudmila Samsonova
Head-to-head: Samsonova 2-1 Krejcikova
Two big names in Liudmila Samsonova and Barbora Krejcikova should ordinarily promise fireworks. Unfortunately neither player is showing their best form. Krejcikova is returning from a fairly debilitating back injury that has seen her a hair off of her most powerful and Samsonova is feeling the aches and pains of the consistency required to play on clay.
In a battle of players not quite at their best, we’re tempted to say Krejcikova will be the more likely of the two to come through. The Czech is extremely wily and is the far more accomplished clay-courter, particularly on a slower court like Strasbourg’s.
Prediction: Krejcikova in 3
Main Photo Credit: David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports
