Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the WTA Cincinnati match.
Amanda Anisimova (No. 8 WTA) will only properly get her Cincinnati campaign underway today. Her scheduled first-round opponent, Leolia Jeanjean (No. 95 WTA), withdrew before stepping on court, which could leave her a little short on match sharpness — something Anna Kalinskaya (No. 34 WTA) may look to exploit.
Anna Kalinskaya
Kalinskaya’s opener against Peyton Stearns (No. 54 WTA) was a tough battle (7:6, 4:6, 6:1), but it showcased the Russian’s serving prowess. She landed 70% of first serves, fired down seven aces, and won 13 of 15 service games — a rock-solid platform that saw her through.
Amanda Anisimova
Anisimova’s hard-court form this season has been patchy. In Montreal, she suffered a one-sided loss to Elina Svitolina (No. 13 WTA) with a score of 4:6, 1:6, bowing out in the last 16. She struggled badly on return, winning just 11% of games on her opponent’s serve. Defence has been her weak spot, and in her current state she could find it hard to impose herself.
Anna Kalinskaya vs Amanda Anisimova Prediction
While the bookmakers have installed Anisimova as a clear favourite due to her top-10 status, she’s some way off her peak form. In contrast, Kalinskaya comes in match-ready and capable of making this a real contest. A set for the Russian is well within reach.
