Day 2 of tennis at the Tokyo Olympics is Sunday (in Tokyo; late Friday night in the United States), and we’re here to share our thoughts on every match. Players fight for ranking points and national glory, and the Olympics almost always brings out the best in athletes. Monica Puig won this tournament in 2016, but she’s not in the draw this year. Who will win on Day 3? Our writers share their thoughts. Predicting this set of matches are Jim Smith, Fraser Learmonth, and Ryan Schick. We also have predictions for the rest of the day’s matches, split between three other articles. One features Petra Kvitova vs Jasmine Paolini, the second headlines Aryna Sabalenka vs Magda Linette, and the third features Ons Jabeur vs Carla Suarez Navarro.
Tokyo Olympics Day 2 Women’s Predictions
Ivana Jorovic vs Alison Van Uytvanck
Jim:
Ivana Jorovic arrives at the Tokyo Olympics having been in indifferent form on the clay over the past few weeks. That does not inspire much confidence in her chances against Alison Van Uytvanck. The Belgian is inconsistent, but her flat penetrating groundstrokes make her a difficult opponent to play, particularly on faster courts.
Prediction: Van Uytvanck in 3
Fraser:
Van Uytvanck is the better player of these two, particularly on fast hard courts. Her flat, penetrating groundstrokes off both wings reap rewards on the kinds of courts featured at the Tokyo Olympics and the Belgian may well have quite a good run here. At the very least she should get past Jorovic without too much trouble.
Prediction: Van Uytvanck in 2
Ryan:
Jorovic has a fun game but has not yet shown she is quite ready to win at tour level. Van Uytvanck has not played quite up to her standards recently but has still been able to win plenty of matches. Van Uytvanck tends to win the matches she is supposed to and has a solid game that she can use to control the match and get the victory.
Prediction: Van Uytvanck in 2
Jelena Ostapenko vs Elena Vesnina
Jim:
Jelena Ostapenko’s excellent run of form was brought to an end in the third round at Wimbledon, but the Latvian has had plenty of time to recharge since. Her chances at a medal do look relatively thin, but this is a match she should win relatively comfortably. Elena Vesnina is not the force she once was.
Prediction: Ostapenko in 2
Fraser:
Ostapenko is one of the better players on the women’s tour when her game is firing. She is also coming off a strong campaign on grass which saw her lift the title in Eastbourne. The Latvian is also over 250 ranking places higher than her opponent Vesnina. This really shouldn’t be much of a match if Ostapenko can keep her immense power under control and play with margins. It is never a certainty with the Latvian, but I like her to win here.
Prediction: Ostapenko in 2
Ryan:
This should be a fun match with both players somewhat resurgent this year. Vesnina primarily plays doubles but after a rough start to 2021 reached the third and second rounds at the French Open and Wimbledon respectively. Ostapenko seems to have finally found her game, and though hard is not her best surface, she has enough defensive weapons to get past Vesnina comfortably.
Prediction: Ostapenko in 2
Yaroslava Shvedova vs Ajla Tomljanovic
Jim:
Ajla Tomljanovic enjoyed the best fortnight of her career at Wimbledon, reaching the quarterfinals with a series of battling wins. The Australian will likely be tested here up against an experienced opponent in Yaroslava Shvedova. But if she maintains the form she was in at the All-England Club, she should have too much for the Kazakh.
Prediction: Tomljanovic in 2
Fraser:
This should be a straightforward win for Aussie Ajla Tomljanovic. She is coming off her first Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance in Wimbledon earlier this month. Her opponent, Shvedova, is trying to make a return to the tour after time away spent being a mom to her new child. However, She has yet to show any of her past level of tennis since returning. If she were near that level this might be more interesting, but as things stand Tomljanovic should take this comfortably.
Prediction: Tomljanovic in 2
Ryan:
Tomljanovic is looking to capitalize on a standout performance at Wimbledon where she reached the quarterfinal. Shvedova is an experienced player but has struggled to win matches this year. The Australian has made massive gains over the past couple seasons and will be able to keep up her strong form in Tokyo.
Prediction: Tomljanovic in 2
Ashleigh Barty vs Sara Sorribes Tormo
Jim:
Ash Barty may not be fully focused so soon after winning the title at Wimbledon, but the fact that this is an event only contested once every four years should help her concentrate on the task at the hand. That is an achievable one. Sara Sorribes Tormo is a fine player, but she is not in Barty’s class.
Prediction: Barty in 3
Fraser:
Sorribes Tormo has been one of the better players on the WTA Tour this year and is in the midst of what is a career year for the Spaniard. She plays phenomenal defense and is a great mover on the court. However, she is playing the best woman in tennis at the moment. World #1 Ashleigh Barty has looked in superb form on all surfaces this year and comes into the Olympics having secured her second Grand Slam at Wimbledon earlier this month. Barty should win this, though it might not be an easy one to start of her campaign.
Prediction: Barty in 2
Ryan:
The tournament’s top seed has a decently tricky matchup against Sorribes Tormo. The young Spaniard is having a solid year and is best on hard courts, capturing her first career title in Guadalajara this year. Barty is the top player in the world for a reason, and though this match may be close, her experience and all-around game will power her to victory.
Prediction: Barty in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
