Day two of the WTA 500 Charleston tournament will see Belinda Bencic, the Olympic Gold Medalist, kick off her clay-court season with a tough encounter against the skilled Dayana Yastremska. This match is one of many intriguing fixtures slated for the day. Other anticipated matches, such as Bianca Andreescu against Dalma Galfi and Paula Badosa facing Kayla Day, will be covered in separate previews.
WTA Charleston Day 2 Match Previews and Predictions
Shuai Zhang vs. Yuliia Starodubtseva
Head-to-head record: First professional meeting
Shuai Zhang reached the semifinals of the Merida Open last month, a strong performance that was unfortunately followed by early exits in Indian Wells and Miami. Historically, the Chinese veteran excels on hard courts. Conversely, Yuliia Starodubtseva appears to be the more favored player on clay. While Charleston’s green clay offers a quicker pace than traditional red clay, it still doesn’t possess the speed of hard courts, which could benefit the Ukrainian’s game more.
Prediction: Starodubtseva in straight sets
Caty McNally vs. Ashlyn Krueger
Head-to-head record: McNally leads 2-1
Both American players aren’t primarily clay-court specialists, although the faster green clay in Charleston might somewhat mitigate this. Despite Caty McNally’s undeniable talent, which means she can never be entirely counted out, her varied game, net approaches, and skill in redirecting pace are less effective on clay. Ashlyn Krueger’s more conventional style of play is likely to prove more resilient over a three-set contest.
Prediction: Krueger in three sets
Belinda Bencic vs. Dayana Yastremska
Head-to-head record: Bencic leads 4-1
Considering the head-to-head record and Belinda Bencic’s significant career accomplishments, this promises to be a formidable challenge for Dayana Yastremska. While the Ukrainian might fare better on traditional red clay, where Bencic often faces more difficulty, the Swiss player has a proven track record on Charleston’s green clay, having won in 2022 and reached the final in 2023. Bencic’s strong recent form further complicates the task for Yastremska.
Prediction: Bencic in straight sets