The #ASBClassic was the first draw which was released for the 2019 WTA season. Most tennis fans put their attention to the first quarter, where all three Major champions in the tournament were found in. There was one particular match-up which grabbed the spotlight, and it could be considered a cruel draw for them considering how open the field is.
First Quarter: Top seed Wozniacki gets a tricky draw
Top seed and world number three #CarolineWozniacki will begin her 2019 season against a qualifier, but her potential second-round opponent is #TimeaBabos, a hard-hitting player who is known to trouble the top players. 2017 champion #LaurenDavis, having received a wildcard into the main draw after a poor year which saw her ranking plummet outside the top-100, goes up against #LaraArruabarrena in the first round as well.
Closing out the quarter would be the fantastic first-round encounter between seven-time Major champion #VenusWilliams and former world number one #VictoriaAzarenka. This is their first meeting since 2015, with the American leading their head-to-head 4-2 but the Belarusian had won their two previous meetings. This is considered the most highly-anticipated first-round match of the first week.
Prediction: V.Williams d. Wozniacki
Second Quarter: Hsieh looks to replicate her result
Third seed #HsiehSuwei opens her Auckland campaign against a familiar foe, #PolonaHercog. The Taiwanese split four previous meetings with her Slovenian opponent, although it is Hsieh who won their last encounter at the Japan Women’s Open this year. Her potential second-round opponent would be a hard-hitter, with #MonicaPuig going up against wildcard #BethanieMattekSands.
#SaraSorribesTormo faces #StefanieVoegele, with the winner of the match earning the chance to play seventh seed #KirstenFlipkens. However, the Belgian first has to get past the tricky opening hurdle of #SachiaVickery.
Prediction: Puig d. Flipkens
Third Quarter: Former semifinalist Strycova looks to repeat her success
Fifth seed #BarboraStrycova was handed a tricky draw — with #TaylorTownsend awaiting in the opening round. Her second-round opponent would most probably be another American, although this time it will be the teenage sensation #AmandaAnisimova, who is tipped to be the future of women’s tennis. Anisimova received a main draw wildcard and will be making her debut in Auckland.
Hard-hitter #ViktoriaKuzmova starts her new season against #TamaraZidansek, a player who quietly crept up the ranking boards throughout 2018. Fourth seed #PetraMartic received a cruel draw as she will need to overcome the tough challenge from #SofiaKenin, one of the most outstanding youngsters on the tour currently. This is the chance for the American to prove herself once more, having reached her first WTA quarterfinal here in 2018.
Prediction: Kenin d. Anisimova
Fourth Quarter: Goerges receives favourable draw
Eighth seed #AlisonVanUytvanck starts her campaign against a qualifier although things will get tricky from the second round. The resurgent #EugenieBouchard, who looked so impressive towards the end of 2018, opens against #MadisonBrengle, who produced the famous upset of Serena Williams back in 2017 here in Auckland. The Canadian has a good chance to mount a deep run in Auckland.
#MargaritaGasparyan and #MonaBarthel will contest a repeat of their semifinal clash at the Tashkent Open, although the Russian will come into the encounter as the match favourite. The winner potentially earns the chance to face second seed and defending champion #JuliaGoerges in the second round. However, the German faces the tricky #JohannaLarsson in her first match of the year although she is still the overwhelming favourite to reach the final.
Prediction: Goerges d. Bouchard
Semifinals Prediction: V.Williams d. Puig, Goerges d. Kenin
Final Prediction: V.Williams d. Goerges
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