It’s time for the remaining ten round-one matches at the 2023 WTA Livesport Prague Open. Shuai Zhang will be trying to break that 14-match losing streak against her compatriot Yue Yuan. Can she finally recover from her issues and get back to winning ways? We predict five of the matches in this article, and five more in a separate article. Who do you think will come out on top?
WTA Prague Day 2 Predictions
Patricia Maria Tig vs Anna Karolina Schmiedlova
Head-to-head: First meeting
Patricia Maria Tig has been trying to return to her best level for years now and it’s just not working out. Her best results this year are a couple of ITF quarterfinals and she hasn’t really played a full schedule. She also hasn’t won a hard-court match since early 2021. Anna Karolina Schmiedlova should have a relatively safe passage to the second round here, although this could have been a different story a few seasons ago.
Prediction: Schmiedlova in 2
Gabriela Knutson vs Tereza Martincova
Head-to-head: First meeting
The last few weeks haven’t been all that strong for Gabriela Knutson, but the 26-year-old made up for it with a brilliant upset over Greet Minnen in the qualifying here. Tereza Martincova has so much more experience at this level though and while she got destroyed by Yanina Wickmayer last week, that was more on the Belgian’s amazing level. The former World No. 40 has to get a slight nod in this all-Czech battle.
Prediction: Martincova in 3
Elvina Kalieva vs Linda Noskova
Head-to-head: First meeting
Linda Noskova made the quarterfinals in Warsaw last week and while she wasn’t able to touch Iga Swiatek, who on earth can right now? Elvina Kalieva has had some fine results while getting to the top 200 this year and did well to qualify here, but she just doesn’t have the upside of the 2021 Roland Garros girls’ singles champion. If she can keep a more or less steady level, Noskova should progress here without much trouble.
Prediction: Noskova in 2
Heather Watson vs Jule Niemeier
Head-to-head: Watson 2-1
They’ve already played once this year with Heather Watson coming out on top in Nottingham. Jule Niemeier continues to have a pretty baffling record this year with a few excellent peak matches and many straightforward losses. What’s the chance she delivers here? Probably a bit lower than usual with Watson coming off a great week in Warsaw and not having to switch surfaces, unlike Niemeier.
Prediction: Watson in 3
Shuai Zhang vs Yue Yuan
Head-to-head: Zhang 1-0
With a 4-17 win/loss record, a 14-match losing streak, and mental health issues she brought up, Shuai Zhang’s future on the singles tour isn’t looking bright. Her last week’s showing against Tereza Martincova was actually pretty decent though, even if she lacked a bit of decisiveness in the key moments. The question is whether she can get back on track against someone like Yue Yuan, who’s outside the Top 100 right now, but a very talented shotmaker in her own right.
Prediction: Yuan in 3
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