Three picks from the second round of the WTA Open 35 de Saint-Malo today, with a 100% chance of rain hanging over the clay courts and temperatures sitting around 11°C, so scheduling could get messy. Let's get into it.
WTA Open 35 de Saint-Malo Predictions
Bianca Vanessa Andreescu vs Yue Yuan
Head-to-head: Andreescu 1-0 Yuan
The one previous meeting went Andreescu's way, but both players are in a part of the ranking where form swings wildly week to week, and Yuan has looked the more consistent of the two lately. Andreescu's clay record has never been great and when she's not serving well she can unravel quickly on a slower surface like this one.
Yuan is ranked higher and has been the more reliable player over the past few months, and I think that steadiness carries her through a tight three-setter here.
Prediction: Yuan in 3
Whitney Osuigwe vs Viktorija Golubic
Head-to-head: First meeting
Golubic is ranked nearly 100 spots above Osuigwe and has plenty of experience on clay, so this looks like a straightforward upset pick on paper. But Osuigwe is a natural clay-court player and has been pushing her way back up the rankings steadily, and Golubic at 81 in the world isn't exactly a lock against anyone right now. The rainy, heavy conditions should slow things down and reward the better mover, and that plays into Osuigwe's hands.
Osuigwe in 3, and it won't be a shock.
Prediction: Osuigwe in 3
Tereza Valentova vs Claire Liu
Head-to-head: First meeting
Valentova is ranked 50th in the world and Liu is at 214, so this one is about as lopsided as it gets. Hard to see this being competitive at all. That said, Liu hasn't been competing at this level regularly and Valentova is a solid clay-court performer, comfortable in these mid-tier WTA events on her preferred surface. The gap in ranking reflects a real gap in where these two are in their careers right now.
Valentova should handle this without too many problems, all things considered.
Prediction: Valentova in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Rob Prange/AFP7 via ZUMA Press Wire