This week’s WTA event in Beijing has the notable absence of World #1 and defending champion Iga Swiatek, but it still features the usual star-studded field and promises to feature lots of high-quality tennis and nail biting matches all throughout the week. Day 1 won’t feature any of the top seeds yet, but it will still have a lot of interesting matchup and even have a 4-time Grand Slam champion in Naomi Osaka in action.
We predict all 16 of Wednesday’s matches, split between four articles. The other articles feature Amanda Anisimova vs Xinyu Wang, Taylor Townsend vs Martina Trevisanm and Sofia Kenin vs Ana Bogdan. Who do you think will advance?
WTA Beijing Day 1 Predictions
Diane Parry vs En Shuo Liang
Head-to-head: first meeting
Parry hasn’t been playing well lately, but, at least on paper, she has had a very fortunate first round draw here, facing the World #260. Liang has been struggling to find any kind of success even at lower level for the most part and even if she had a nice run through qualifying here in Beijing she should be outmatched here.
Prediction: Parry in 2
Varvara Gracheva vs Hailey Baptiste
Head-to-head: first meeting
On paper, this should be a very tight match, with very little to choose between the two players. Gracheva is generally the more consistent player of the two, as reflected by their respective rankings, but Baptiste has been playing some good tennis and really impressed in qualifying here. That extra momentum might just make the difference in her favour.
Prediction: Baptiste in 3
Anhelina Kalinina vs Rebecca Sramkova
Head-to-head: Kalinina 1-0 Sramkova
Another match that should be very tight on paper. That said, Sramkova is on a great streak at the moment, winning seven matches in the last eight days, including a title in Thailand and the qualifying here. While that might also bring some fatigue at some point, it surely brings a lot of confidence too, which might give her the edge in the decisive moments of tomorrow’s match.
Prediction: Sramkova in 3
Lucia Bronzetti vs Naomi Osaka
Head-to-head: Osaka 1-0 Bronzetti
Osaka’s resumé might look a bit out of place compared to everyone else playing in the first day of this tournament, but the truth is that she is far from her best. She has shown some flashes of it, but not in a consistent way. Beijing is yet another opportunity for Osaka to make a real statement of intent and she will do everything in her power not to waste it.
Prediction: Osaka in 2
Main Photo Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
