A couple of second-round picks from Modena today, where it's clear skies and pushing toward 93°F, so the conditions are going to be brutal out there. We've got two first meetings to break down, so let's get into it.
WTA Memorial Eugenio Fontana - Modena Predictions
Kaitlin Quevedo vs Jeline Vandromme
Head-to-head: First meeting
Quevedo has been building her game steadily on clay and the ranking gap here, while not enormous, does reflect a real difference in where these two are right now. Vandromme has had a tough time breaking through at this level consistently and Modena isn't the kind of event where you'd back her to do it against a player ranked 70 spots above her.
That said, clay in Italy tends to reward patience and Vandromme can grind, so don't expect this to be clean. I think Quevedo gets through, but she'll have to work for it, all things considered.
Prediction: Quevedo in 3
Noma Akugue Noha vs Katarzyna Kawa
Head-to-head: First meeting
Kawa is the higher-ranked player here and has plenty of clay experience, but Akugue Noha is a young player whose game has been developing quickly on this surface. Hard to see this being competitive at all, and the heat today will test both of them physically over a long three-setter.
Salkova wins this one in three.
Prediction: Salkova in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Oscar J. Barroso/AFP7 via ZUMA Press Wire