Several Indian players will be at the heart of Monday's WTA 250 event in Chennai, taking on more experienced opponents on stage in a promise to blend local flavor with high-stakes competition. As always, we at LWOT will provide our predictions for every game on the schedule. But who will move forward?
WTA Chennai Day 1 Prediction
Mai Hondama VS Storm Hunter
Head to Head: first meeting
Honyuwu enters the opener on a five-game losing streak and is still finding her rhythm and confidence. Storm Hunter has not played singles since the Beijing Olympics and struggled to maintain form before the break, although her left-handed serve and instincts at the net remain a threat. With both games winless, it may come down to consistency, and Benyu's sharper game may give her a slight advantage.
Prediction: Hontama 3
Sahaja Yamarapalli vs Priska Nugroho
Head to Head: first meeting
This is one of the more balanced contests on paper. Yamalapalli performed well in front of his home fans and made steady progress on the ITF circuit. The faster pace of play Nugroho displayed in the Jinan Challenge semifinals may give her an early advantage, but Yamalapalli's ability to absorb pressure and extend her scoring may mean she's not as simple as she seems. Both players will win cheers from the crowd, and Nugroho's better form of late should see her across the finish line.
Prediction: Nugroho advances to 3
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Polina Yatsenko VS Alina Chalayeva
Head to Head: first meeting
The all-Russian match pitted Yatsenko's flat baseline game against Chalayeva's more compact defensive style. Yatsenko looked unbeatable when the time came, while Chalayeva relied on rhythm and movement to force turnovers. Expect plenty of long exchanges, but the faster surface should benefit Yatsenko's ability to hit the ball more decisively.
Prediction: Yatsenko 2
Donna Vickery VS Vaishnavi Adkar
Head to Head: first meeting
Adeka will have support from home, with her ability to attack cleanly from both flanks. Still, facing Vekic was a major improvement. The Croatian's serve and ability to dictate from the baseline give her a clear advantage, and she's unlikely to let up once she settles into form. Adeka is expected to show resistance, but Vekic should advance easily.
Prediction: Vicchi scores 2
Main photo credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports