Rarely do you see a match between a player who’s 42 years old and another who’s not even 18 yet. But that’s what we’re getting at the WTA Libema Open in Den Bosch, with a very exciting clash between five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams and the teen prodigy Celine Naef. Who do you think will prevail? We also look at the day’s five other matches in a separate article.
WTA Den Bosch Day 2 Predictions
Evgeniya Rodina vs Ekaterina Alexandrova
Head-to-head: Alexandrova 1-0
Evgeniya Rodina has a lot of grass-court experience, but after becoming a mother and grabbing a few injuries, the Russian is playing more or less part-time at the moment. If she had a weaker opponent here, perhaps she could have been a nice underdog pick here. However, Ekaterina Alexandrova won this event last year and if her grass season is this good again, she might be one of the dark horses at Wimbledon.
Prediction: Alexandrova in 2
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Susan Bandecchi vs Viktoria Hruncakova
Head-to-head: Hruncakova 1-0
They’ve already played in February this year in an ITF event in Altenkirchen. Neither has been impressive since, which was disappointing especially in Viktoria Hruncakova’s case as the former top 50 player can’t quite make her way back to the top. Susan Bandecchi qualified here after two thrillers with Magali Kempen and Mai Hontama. She doesn’t have Hruncakova’s upside and the court doesn’t suit her that much, but the momentum from the qualifying should help her keep it close.
Prediction: Hruncakova in 3
Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove vs Kimberly Birrell
Head-to-head: Pattinama Kerkhove 1-0
Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove had a great showing at Wimbledon last year when she almost took out Iga Swiatek, but it’s not like she’s playing that well on grass every single week. This looks like a fairly even matchup though, so maybe she can get something going. Kimberly Birrell has some amount of experience on this surface but it usually doesn’t help her overcome the fact that her game just doesn’t work on it too well.
Prediction: Pattinama Kerkhove in 3
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Rebecca Peterson vs Ashlyn Krueger
Head-to-head: First meeting
Lots of uncertainties ahead of this one with Rebecca Peterson withdrawing from a match in Makarska last week, while Ashlyn Krueger only has one professional match on grass (a loss to Sachia Vickery in Surbiton). The American also didn’t fare that well on this surface in the juniors but at least in theory, her playstyle should be pretty applicable to the conditions in Den Bosch. She might grab a very good win here.
Prediction: Krueger in 3
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Venus Williams vs Celine Naef
Head-to-head: First meeting
17-year-old Celine Naef looks like a fantastic prospect with the way she sprinted past the juniors and already has five ITF titles to her name. She hasn’t played on grass yet in the pros, but managed to get in five matches on it in the under-18 competitions. This is such an interesting matchup with Venus Williams being a five-time Wimbledon champion and barely an active player these days at 42 years of age (turning 43 this week). At this stage, the American actually has to prove she can still deliver. Talent will never go away, but the body might not hold up.
Prediction: Naef in 3
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports