The 2021 BNP Paribas Open is in full swing, and Day 2 will see the primary spherical wrapped up. Listed here are seven matches to circle on the schedule.
Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) vs. Viktorija Golubic (SUI)
This conflict between two gamers who possess among the greatest arms on tour is one to observe each for the aesthetics and their kind. Vondrousova, runner-up at Roland Garros in 2019, has discovered an identical groove this summer time. A silver medal run on the Tokyo Olympic Video games has been adopted by semifinal showings in her final two tournaments, in Luxembourg and Chicago. The Czech has gained 15 of her final 20 matches, executing her trademark dropshot with confidence and panache.
Vondrousova, who was pressured to drag out of Chicago on the weekend resulting from gastro-intestinal sickness, might be returning to a event the place she has loved historic success. The 22-year-old defeated Johanna Konta and Aryna Sabalenka to make the final 16 on her 2018 debut, and shocked Simona Halep the next yr to go one spherical additional.
On the age of 28, Golubic is having a profession yr. The Swiss ended 2020 ranked No.137, however has surged to constant success this season: back-to-back finals in Lyon and Monterrey in March, the Saint-Malo WTA 125 title in Might, a maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal at Wimbledon in July and, as the results of all of this, a long-awaited High 50 debut. Her one-handed backhand has been purring this season: within the first-time encounter, count on loads of scorching pictures.
Katerina Siniakova (CZE) vs. [WC] Kim Clijsters (BEL)
Former World No.1 Clijsters has discovered her second comeback stymied repeatedly – first by the worldwide pandemic that hit inside weeks of her return in 2020, after which by accidents that meant she didn’t compete for 13 months between the 2020 US Open and Chicago final week. The 38-year-old Belgian, champion in Indian Wells in 2003 and 2005, has proven flashes of her ball-striking expertise, however has to this point compiled a 0-4 report.
Getting off the mark might be no simpler in California. Clijsters has been drawn in opposition to the gifted World No.53 Siniakova, a participant who can run all day and conjure up all kinds of magic along with her gentle arms. The Czech has been hovering in doubles this yr, profitable each Roland Garros and the Tokyo Olympic Video games alongside Barbora Krejcikova; and whereas she’s nonetheless much less constant in singles, Siniakova nonetheless enjoys a repute as an upset artist. Two High 10 wins this season, over Serena Williams in Parma and Garbiñe Muguruza in Montréal, bear that out.
The winner will tackle No.10 seed Angelique Kerber within the second spherical.
Amanda Anisimova (USA) vs. [WC] Katrina Scott (USA)
13 months in the past, Scott introduced herself on the massive stage. As a 16-year-old wildcard ranked No.637, she defeated Natalia Vikhlyantseva to achieve the second spherical of the 2020 US Open, the place she led Anisimova by a set earlier than falling 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.
Scott has continued to climb steadily since. Now ranked No.439, this summer time noticed {the teenager} rating her first two High 100 wins, over Madison Brengle and Lauren Davis, in WTA 125 tournaments in Charleston and Harmony.
In the meantime, Anisimova might be searching for to make use of this rematch as a springboard for a much-needed assertion run. The 20-year-old has loved a type of in Indian Wells earlier than – as a No.149-ranked wildcard on her 2018 debut, she posted her first High 10 win over Petra Kvitova to achieve the fourth spherical. A lean 2021 has seen her rating fall to No.81, however there have been promising indicators not too long ago – specifically a basic late-night US Open conflict with Karolina Pliskova, which Anisimova barely misplaced 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-6(7).
[Q] Liang En-Shuo (TPE) vs. Alison Riske (USA)
After ending a breakthrough 2019 at a career-high of World No.18, Riske ended up as one of many gamers who struggled most to regain momentum after the Covid-19 shutdown. The American compiled a meagre 5-15 report on resumption by way of to a first-round loss to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova at this yr’s US Open.
With factors from her 2019 Wuhan ultimate run dropping off final month, Riske discovered her kind simply in time. Three weeks in the past, her flat hitting clicked as she reached the Portoroz ultimate, after which the second spherical in Ostrava. The 31-year-old might want to overcome a 1-6 report in Indian Wells fundamental attracts to progress, although.
Standing in her manner would be the 2020 Australian Open ladies’ champion and former junior World No.1 Liang, 21, who defeated Wang Xinyu and Caroline Dolehide to qualify for her Indian Wells debut. The World No.224 from Chinese language Taipei boasts a formidable weapon in her heavy forehand, and her outcomes this yr embrace qualifying for her first Grand Slam fundamental draw at Roland Garros.
The winner might be rewarded with a big-stage second-round conflict with defending champion and No.16 seed Bianca Andreescu.
Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (SVK) vs. Ana Konjuh (CRO)
“I feel we will cease calling it a comeback at this level,” Konjuh mentioned in Nur-Sultan final week. The Croat has now performed a full 12 months since getting back from a fourth elbow surgical procedure, and her outcomes converse for themselves. Konjuh, 23, has gone from unranked to World No.78 due to a 41-22 report this yr, together with a runner-up displaying in Belgrade and a fourth-round run in Miami, the place she knocked off Iga Swiatek and Madison Keys.
The large-hitting Konjuh faces an intriguing stylistic distinction in opposition to World No.85 Schmiedlova’s easy defence and sharp backhand angles. The Slovak has a 34-20 report in 2021, together with a title run on the Belgrade WTA 125 occasion in July.
Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) vs. Polona Hercog (SLO)
A conflict between two gifted gamers in want of a season turnaround. After sliding from a profession excessive of World No.11 in August 2019 out of the High 50 final yr, Sevastova posted some promising leads to the primary half of 2021. The Latvian, famend for her finesse, reached quarterfinals in Adelaide, Miami and Eastbourne. However her outcomes have tailed off once more, and she or he is presently on a six-match shedding streak relationship again to Wimbledon.
Former World No.35 Hercog has additionally struggled to seek out her greatest kind this yr. In 2019, the Slovenian returned to the High 50 for the primary time in seven years, however a 4-13 WTA fundamental draw report in 2021 has seen her fall again to No.123 this week. A victory for both participant could possibly be an vital turning level; Sevastova leads the head-to-head 3-1.
[WC] Elsa Jacquemot (FRA) vs. Dayana Yastremska (UKR)
Since returning to motion in July, wins have been skinny on the bottom for Yastremska. The hard-hitting Ukrainian’s report since then is simply 4-8, and two of these wins got here in her first event again, in Hamburg.
Nonetheless, there have been promising indicators in defeat. Losses to Sloane Stephens in Montréal and Angelique Kerber on the US Open have been high-quality, knife-edge three-setters that might have gone both manner, and in the end showcased Yastremska’s potential to problem the perfect.
Yastremska will open in opposition to a promising 18-year-old wildcard. Jacquemot was the 2020 Roland Garros ladies’ champion, and reached her first ITF W25 ultimate in Périgueux this June.
Click on right here for the total Day 2 Order of Play.
