If I were a betting man, which evidently I'm not since I'm stuck here talking about it, I'd tell you to pay attention to the following facts. Veronika Kudermetova, the 32nd seed, was displaced by Xinyu Wang in their previous rendezvous in March. Neither of them looked stellar but they both played the game.
Wang has been somewhat of a mixed bag lately, having lost two of her last five matches. Conversely, Kudermetova's had three wins out of her five, although she recently faced a setback against Haddad Maia B. who's been chasing all the stray balls in her neighborhood.
Take a wild guess at who's the favored? Our sweet Veronika. It's fascinating how we treat favorites in sports, like first loves who just can't do wrong. She's been seeded 32nd, and it's no piece of cake, considering the number of powerhouse players in this tournament - who, mind you, she may have to eventually face.
Seems like at the moment, Kudermetova's experiencing some form of tennis equivalent to an existential crisis. Y'know the one where you don't know if you're a backhand gal or a forehand heroine.
Wang, on the other hand, is foraying into this competition unseeded. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, she's a wild flower blooming in the wilderness. But she means business, having staggering potential to leave us all in awe with her stunning performance.
Now, pull up your socks and get ready for a nail-biting game. My crystal ball predicts a feisty duel, leaning in favor of the underdog Xinyu Wang. I'll even go as far as saying it'll be close, with Wang winning in three sets.
Albert's Prediction: Xinyu Wang in 3 sets.