Belinda Bencic, the Olympic Gold Medalist, is set to begin her clay-court season at the WTA 500 Charleston event. Her opening match on Day 2 promises to be a challenging encounter against the talented Dayana Yastremska. This match is one of several compelling contests scheduled for the day. Other anticipated matchups, such as Bianca Andreescu vs Dalma Galfi and Paula Badosa vs Kayla Day, will be discussed in separate analyses.
WTA Charleston Day 2 Match Predictions
Shuai Zhang vs Yuliia Starodubtseva
Head-to-head: First meeting
Shuai Zhang reached the semifinals of the Merida Open a month ago, but has since faced early exits at Indian Wells and Miami. The Chinese veteran typically performs best on hard courts. In contrast, Yuliia Starodubtseva is favored on clay, despite Charleston’s green surface playing faster than traditional red clay. The slower ball movement on this surface is expected to benefit the Ukrainian’s game more.
Prediction: Starodubtseva in 2 sets
Caty McNally vs Ashlyn Krueger
Head-to-head: McNally 2-1 Krueger
Neither Caty McNally nor Ashlyn Krueger are natural clay-court specialists, though Charleston’s faster green clay might suit them slightly better. Despite McNally’s talent, which shouldn’t be underestimated, her diverse playstyle—involving net approaches and pace redirection—might be less effective on clay. Krueger’s more conventional game is anticipated to be more consistent throughout a three-set match.
Prediction: Krueger in 3 sets
Belinda Bencic vs Dayana Yastremska
Head-to-head: Bencic 4-1 Yastremska
Considering the head-to-head record and Belinda Bencic’s impressive career achievements, this match presents a significant challenge for Dayana Yastremska. While Yastremska might have a better chance on red clay, where Bencic traditionally faces more difficulties, Bencic’s strong performance on Charleston’s green clay (winning in 2022 and reaching the final in 2023) demonstrates her comfort on this surface. Furthermore, Bencic’s current excellent form adds to the difficulty of Yastremska’s task.
Prediction: Bencic in 2 sets
