A few second-round picks from the WTA Ilkley Open today, all first meetings on grass. We've got our predictions below, so let's get into it.
WTA Lexus Ilkley Open Predictions
Harmony Tan vs Lanlana Tararudee
Head-to-head: First meeting
Tan was once a grass-court novelty story after beating Serena at Wimbledon in 2022, but she's ranked 210 now and has been drifting for a while. Tararudee at 94 is the more consistent player at this stage of her career and should have enough to see this through, all things considered.
That said, grass does strange things and Tan can still play big on it. I think she makes Tararudee work, but the ranking gap is real and Tararudee gets there in the end.
Prediction: Tararudee in 3
Alicia Dudeney vs Ashlyn Krueger
Head-to-head: First meeting
Krueger is ranked 113 to Dudeney's 258 and has the bigger game of the two, which on grass usually matters more than it does elsewhere. Dudeney has home support playing in Ilkley, and that counts for something, but hard to see this being competitive at all given the gap in ranking and experience.
Prediction: Jones in 3
Celine Naef vs Akasha Urhobo
Head-to-head: First meeting
Naef is ranked 206 and Urhobo 180, so on paper this is close, but Naef has shown real quality at times and feels like the more complete player. Urhobo is young and improving and this could be tight, but Naef should have just enough.
Prediction: Naef in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Rob Prange/AFP7 via ZUMA Press Wire