The tour shifts to the first South American tournament of the year as the WTA tour moves to the #AbiertoMexicanoTelcel with players having their last warm-up before the first Premier Mandatory event of the year. Labelled as the best International tournament on tour on nine separate occasions, many top players are slated to compete in Acapulco this week with fourth-ranked Sloane Stephens headlining the draw.
First Quarter: Stephens receives a tricky draw
Having opted to skip the entire Middle East swing and being the only top-10 player to do so, #SloaneStephens has some work to do in Acapulco. Defending quarterfinal points, the American is handed the same first-round opponent as last year, going up against the dangerous #PaulineParmentier before facing a qualifier in the second round.
#MarieBouzkova, one of the most underrated figures outside the top-100 of the rankings, will go up against #WangYafan in a battle of hard-hitters. Bouzkova reached the second round in Brisbane while Wang reached the fourth round of the Miami Open last year. Another powerful contest will come between sixth seed #MariaSakkari and local favourite #MonicaPuig, who has a large support group in the continent.
Prediction: Stephens d. Puig
Second Quarter: Opportunities are everywhere
Third seed #DonnaVekic has had an up-and-down 2019 thus far — reaching the semifinal in Brisbane, final in St. Petersburg but falling early at the Australian Open. This time she comes into Acapulco receiving a favourable draw which she could well pounce on. She opens her campaign against former top-30 player #MisakiDoi and will face a qualifier in the second round.
#AmandaAnisimova, one of the game’s biggest rising stars and teenage sensations recently, has yet to know her first opponent (a qualifier) but a tougher challenge will follow. Eighth seed #JohannaKonta and #LauraSiegemund will battle off in a first-round clash of two completely different playing styles.
Prediction: Vekic d. Konta
Third Quarter: Who will take their chances?
Seventh seed #ZhengSaisai, who has been struggling for form this year, will look to regain her confidence through a deep run in Acapulco. This will be the Chinese’s debut in this tournament and she will play her first match against local wildcard #RenataZarazua in a very winnable opener. The in-form #DalilaJakupovic, who provided a real test for world number six Angelique Kerber in Dubai, goes up against the powerful #TimeaBabos who just could not get going in singles this year.
Auckland finalist #BiancaAndreescu is also in action, facing wildcard #JilTeichmann in the opening hurdle while fourth seed #MihaelaBuzarnescu — who has never been the same player since her horrifying ankle injury in Cincinnati last year — faces the dangerous #DariaGavrilova. It seems like another first-round exit will loom for the struggling Romanian, who has lost 11 consecutive matches. However, Gavrilova is also on a six-match losing streak but fortunately for either of them, one losing streak will end this week.
Prediction: Andreescu d. Jakupovic
Fourth Quarter: Azarenka and Collins battle it off
Fifth seed #SofiaKenin has been one of the more outstanding players this year; winning her maiden WTA title at the Hobart International before coming close to oust then-world number one Simona Halep at the Australian Open. She faces #RebeccaPeterson in an interesting first-round encounter and could face British youngster #KatieBoulter next.
#TatjanaMaria and #StefanieVoegele will clash for a spot in the second round, but from there it is going to be a tough journey. The most highly-anticipated clash in the draw would be between second seed, Australian Open semifinalist #DanielleCollins and two-time Major champion, former world number one #VictoriaAzarenka. The pair had previously faced off in San Jose last year although they did not have the chance to complete the match as the Belarusian was forced to retire. This time, expect the American to prevail though.
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