Yulia Putintseva will face one of the tour’s rising stars in one of the most interesting matches of the second day of the WTA Guangzhou Open. It is one of 12 matches scheduled for Tuesday. Who will advance to the next round?
WTA Guangzhou Day 2 Predictions
Victoria Jiménez Kasintseva vs. Ann Li
Face to face: Kasintseva 1-1 Li
Jimenez Kasintseva is knocking on the door of the Top 100, and there is a very good chance that she will get there before the end of the season. The Andorran is just seven places off that milestone after winning 20 hard-court matches at all levels. Ann Li beat Kasintseva 6-4 6-0 in an ITF tournament last season. Although another score is highly unlikely, the American should control the rallies and her cleaner game will shine in a baseline battle.
Prediction: Li out of 3
Camila Osorio vs. Lucie Bronzetti
Face to face: Osorio 2-0 Bronzetti
Bronzetti has played well in Guangzhou in each of the last two seasons. She was a quarter-finalist in 2023 and reached the semi-finals last year without dropping a set before losing to Caroline Dolehide. The Italian enters this year’s tournament with less momentum, and her last main draw victory came in Cincinnati. Camila Osorio has played at an extremely high level in recent weeks and has a perfect record against Bronzetti. Expect the Colombian to continue this.
Prediction: Osorio in 2
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Kaja Juvan vs. Caty McNally
Face to face: Juvan 2-0 McNally
It’s a dream comeback season for McNally, who is now a Top 100 player. The American only played 13 times last year due to elbow surgery. She progressed from the lower levels to achieve a double-digit ranking. Juvan is also coming off an injury-riddled 2024 season, and the Slovenian has taken a similar path in climbing the rankings. She has won a couple of WTA 125K titles and is now on the verge of returning to the top 100. A win over McNally will help her cause, but the world number 90 is more battle-tested, having faced elite opponents in recent weeks.
Prediction: McNally in 3
Yulia Putintseva vs. Alina Korneeva
Face to face: first meeting
The 2025 campaign was torrid for Yulia Putintseva. From the top of the Top 20, the Kazakh is now fighting to stay in the Top 100. With just 14 main draw wins all season, it’s hard to point to highs and, ironically, her best tennis came in that agonizing Billie Jean King Cup singles loss to Emma Navarro. Korneeva’s rise to the main circuit hasn’t been as rapid as that of some of her former junior rivals, but the potential is there. The 19-year-old has dominated the ITF circuit with three titles and impressed during qualifying for this tournament. None of Putintseva’s characteristic temperament and energy has translated into major success this season and Korneeva has the advantage of getting a result.
Prediction: Korneeva in 3
Main photo credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
