Zhang Shuai (Image Credit: WTA - Twitter)
Top seed Zhang Shuai begins her campaign in the Open de Limoges against Jessika Ponchet in the round of 32 on Tuesday.
The Chinese veteran was ousted in the round of 32 in Open de Limoges last year by Jessika Ponchet. It is quite interesting that a year later, both players will once again square off in the first round of the same tournament. While Shuai suffered a defeat last year, she will hope to turn things around this time.
Shuai most recently played in the WTA Angers Arena Loire Open. She crashed out in the first round as she lost to eventual champion Alycia Parks in a one-sided affair. The 33-year-old is not having a great finish to the season. She will hope to string together some wins to end on a high as the 2023 Australian Open is coming closer.
The 26-year-old is coming into the tournament on the back of some decent form. At the WTA Angers Arena Loire Open, Ponchet made it to the semis where she lost to Alycia Parks. However, she was the first player in the tournament to win a set against the red-hot American player.
Ponchet has made it to six quarterfinals in 2022. Last year at Limoges, Ponchet made it to the quarterfinals where she lost to Ana Bogdan. The young Frenchwoman has won a couple of ITF singles titles this year.
The head-to-head scoreline currently stands at 1-0 in favor of Jessika Ponchet. She defeated Shuai in Limoges last year in three sets 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.
Prediction: Zhang Shuai to win in three sets.
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