Top-seeded Diana Shnaider kicks off her Hong Kong campaign on Tuesday. The 20-year-old has already won a title on each surface this season, can she also wrap up the year in style? Facing her in the opening round will be qualifier Kyoka Okamura. Who do you think will prevail?
WTA Hong Kong Day 2 Predictions
Xinyu Gao vs Suzan Lamens
Head-to-head: First meeting
Suzan Lamens recently broke the Top 100 with the title in Osaka, where she impressively won seven matches in a row with the last two beatdowns coming on the same day. Taking to Guangzhou was going to be tough (especially when she drew Marie Bouzkova), but there’s no reason why she can’t do well here now that she’s got some rest. Xinyu Gao is playing some of the best tennis of her career herself with a memorable match against Sara Sorribes Tormo last month. Lamens is so confident right now that she should get this done though.
Prediction: Lamens in 2
Ana Bogdan vs Kimberly Birrell
Head-to-head: Birrell 1-0
Kimberly Birrell made the Osaka final in her last tournament appearance and while her draw didn’t feature any top-quality opposition (other than Elise Mertens who retired with an injury), it was still a massive move for the Australian. She’s definitely had a more consistent year than Ana Bogdan, who made the final in Cluj-Napoca at the start of the season and then disappeared for months. Ultimately her ceiling is much higher than Birrell’s though and she seems to be finding some form again.
Prediction: Bogdan in 3
Diana Shnaider vs Kyoka Okamura
Head-to-head: First meeting
For pretty much her first full pro season, Diana Shnaider was just fantastic this year. She might be the real deal and should continue like that going forward. The Russian is coming off a Tokyo semifinal appearance and while she’s played a ton of matches in 2024, it doesn’t seem like she’s close to running out of steam. Kyoka Okamura did well to get through qualifying, but she’ll be a massive underdog here. Most of her matches against players of this quality weren’t competitive.
Prediction: Shnaider in 2
Main Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
