'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Day 1 of the Wuhan Open will feature some of the top players on tour in the singles competition. The first match will take place on Centre Court during the morning session.
Ninth seed Beatriz Haddad Maia will square off against Madison Keys in the opening round. The Brazilian recently lifted the Korea Open in Seoul and will be hungry to achieve more success in Asia.
Olympic bronze medalist Donna Vekic will also be in action against Belgian professional Elise Mertens. The latter reached the fourth round of the US Open last month, which makes up for an exciting contest between the two.
Anna Kalinskaya, the 10th seed, will also feature on Day 1. She is one of the dark horses at the WTA 1000 event and will be determined to make a deep run.
Without further ado, let's take a look at some of the exciting matches lined up for Day 1 of the Wuhan Open.
1) Hailey Baptise vs Diane Parry
World No. 53 Diane Parry will take on World No. 111 Hailey Baptiste in the first round of the Wuhan Open. The head-to-head between the duo is locked at 0-0.
While Parry will enter Wuhan on the back of early exits in Monastir and Beijing, Baptiste reached the second round of the ITF Hong Kong 125.
Critics have had high expectations from Parry since her third-round appearance in the 2022 French Open. The youngster is constantly improving her game, having garnered semifinal runs in the Nottingham Open and the Palermo Ladies Open this year.
Baptiste, on the other hand, is yet to make a significant impact on the main tour. She has the pedigree to present a tough challenge to Parry in the first round, but considering their results this year, the Frenchwoman shouldn't have too many problems getting past the American.
Pick: Parry to win in straight sets.
2) Bernarda Pera vs Irina-Camelia Begu
Next up, Bernarda Pera will face Irina Camelia Begu in the first round of the Wuhan Open. This will be the first meeting between the duo on tour.
While Pera will enter on the back of a first round exit in New York, Camelia Begu registered a title-winning run in the ITF Montreux 125 and a second-round appearance in the China Open.
Both players have similar game styles and like to play a patient brand of tennis on court. Begu has been in slightly better form in the last few months, which makes her the favourite to win the upcoming clash. The Romanian should be able to find her range from the baseline and create problems for Pera in this bout.
Pick: Camelia Begu to win in three-sets.
3) Anna Kalinskaya vs Anna Bondar: Wuhan Open R1
World No. 14 Anna Kalinskaya will lock horns with World No. 90 Anna Bondar in the first round of the Wuhan Open. The head-to-head between the duo is poised at 1-1 and Kalinskaya won their most recent encounter in New York last month.
Kalinskaya will feel gutted to have not lifted a title this year. She reached the finals of the Dubai Tennis Championships and the German Open but couldn't hurdle past her opponents in the deciders.
Bondar, on the other hand, has won four titles on the ITF circuit this year. She will be eager to emulate the same form on the main tour.
Considering their recent performances and record at the highest level, Kalinskaya will be a heavy favorite to come out on top. The Ukranian is one of the cleanest hitters on tour and should be able to cruise through to the second round.
Pick: Kalinskaya to win in straight sets.
4) Katie Volynets vs Anastasia Potapova
World No. 60 Katie Volynets will square off against World No. 38 Anastasia Potapova in the first round. Volynets leads the head-to-head against the Russian 1-0 and defeated her most recently in the ATX Open in Austin last year, 5-7, 6-2, 7-5.
Both players have had a positive season so far, with Potapova being more clinical on the main tour. The Russian reached the semifinals in Birmingham and Cleveland and also chalked up a third-round finish in New York last month.
Volynets will need to bring her A-game to the fore against a quality player like Potapova. She reached the third round in Indian Wells and Beijing, which were her best results so far.
Considering their experience at the highest level and skill set on hard courts, Potapova should be able to book a ticket to the second round.
Pick: Potapova to win in three-sets.
5) Katerina Sinakova vs Alexandra Eala
World No. 37 Katerina Siniakova will take on Alexandra Eala in the first round of the Wuhan Open. The head-to-head between the duo is locked at 0-0.
Siniakova will enter the event on the back of a first-round exit in the China Open. She was eliminated by Yuliia Starodubtseva in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2.
Eala, on the other hand, entered the main draw in the Guadalajara Open via the qualifiers but couldn't continue her run in the first round. The 19-year-old will make her fifth appearance on the main tour in Wuhan and will be looking to make a strong impression.
Siniakova is the heavy favorite on paper and should be able to navigate past the youngster in the first round.
Pick: Siniakova to win in straight sets.
