Day 2 of the WTA Guangzhou Open is packed with 13 first-round encounters. As there are no byes in this tournament, all the top seeds will be in action including the local favourite, Yue Yuan, who is featured in this article. As always, we here at LWOT will offer our predictions for every match on the slate for Day 2–split between two other articles. One features Katerina Siniakova vs Petra Martic and the other features Shuai Zhang vs Kamilla Rakhimova. But who will advance to the next round?
WTA Guangzhou Day 2 Predictions
Olivia Gadecki vs Mananchaya Sawangkaew
Head-to-Head: First meeting
Olivia Gadecki has been in good form on hard courts but was unlucky to face Karolina Muchova in Ningbo last week. Gadecki is the second-highest-ranked Australian player and has more than secured her place for a main draw appearance at the 2025 Australian Open. However, she will look to get some match wins and finish the season strongly. Mananchaya Sawangkaew did well to qualify for the main draw but she is very inexperienced at this level and has just one tour-level win this year. Gadecki’s big serve and great variety should be enough to get her through this match.
Prediction: Gadecki in 3
Han Shi vs Jessika Ponchet
Head-to-Head: First meeting
19-year-old Han Shi will play only her second main draw of her career and will look to get her first win at this level. The Chinese player has won a lot of matches at the ITF level this year. Getting her first tour-level win would be huge for her but it won’t be easy. Jessika Ponchet lost in the first round of the Guangzhou Open last year so she will try her best to win. Ponchet is not that experienced at this level either, with just three main draw wins in her career. The Frenchwoman was impressive in her qualifying matches and was serving beautifully. Han Shi’s time will come but maybe not this week.
Prediction: Ponchet in 2
Alycia Parks vs Anna Bondar
Head-to-Head: First meeting
Alycia Parks has qualified for the main draw as a lucky loser and gets another opportunity to show her talent. The American player is extremely close to making the Australian Open cutoff and a couple of wins this week will help her do so. Parks hasn’t been able to build on her last year’s performance. However, she has a great shot to win against an out-of-form Anna Bondar, who doesn’t play her best tennis on this surface.
Prediction: Parks in 3
Yue Yuan vs Greet Minnen
Head-to-Head: Yuan 1-0 Minnen
The Chinese players have dominated the Guangzhou Open over the years, with five titles to their name. Yue Yuan has the chance to join the prestigious list of winners. Yuan has progressed brilliantly this year but her recent form hasn’t been great. Greet Minnen is a tough opponent for a first-round match and is last year’s semifinalist. But Yuan will have the upper hand in this match if she can find a solid level. The crowd support will help her too.
Prediction: Yuan in 3
Main Photo Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
