A couple of second round matches to dig into from the WTA Paris Masters today, and both of them are genuinely hard to call. Let us know who you think comes through.
WTA Paris Masters Predictions
Aliaksandra Sasnovich vs Anna Blinkova
Head-to-head: Sasnovich 4-0 Blinkova
That head-to-head is the story here. Four from four is a pretty convincing series and it's the kind of number that tends to get in a player's head a little. Blinkova is ranked higher and has been the more consistent player on tour recently, but she simply hasn't found an answer to Sasnovich across any of their previous meetings.
Sasnovich is ranked 120 in the world right now and has had a quiet stretch on tour, so this isn't a straightforward pick. But the H2H dominance is hard to ignore, and on clay the slower conditions should help her keep the ball in play long enough to make Blinkova uncomfortable. I think this goes three sets, with Sasnovich finding a way through in the end.
Prediction: Sasnovich in 3
Alina Charaeva vs Tamara Korpatsch
Head-to-head: First meeting
No history to lean on here, so it comes down to form and feel. Korpatsch has a slight ranking edge and has been reasonably solid on clay over the years, but Charaeva has been one of the more interesting players to watch on the lower rungs of the tour this season and clearly earned her spot in this round.
Korpatsch can be streaky and tends to struggle when her first serve percentage dips, and against a player she's never faced before that inconsistency could really cost her. That said, Charaeva in three sets feels right here, all things considered.
Prediction: Charaeva in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © PI via ZUMA Press Wire