Donna Vekic and Xinyu Wang meet in the first round of WTA Singapore on September 22 at 06:00 UTC. This best-of-three contest turns on a familiar question: can Vekic’s bright opening survive Wang’s pushback?
Vekic starts fast; Wang stays for the full conversation
Vekic has repeatedly looked sharp before losing her grip. She took the first set against Ann Li at the US Open, only to fall 7-5 6-7(4) 4-6, another long hard-court match in which her serve and decision-making became less secure.
Wang’s results are mixed, but her attacking plan has clearer foundations: create width, take the ball early and move forward. She beat Emiliana Arango 6-4 6-2 in New York, while her three-set loss to world No. 22 Anna Kalinskaya showed that hesitation, rather than stamina, remains the bigger concern.
The Cincinnati comeback still hangs over this matchup
The freshest meeting matters. Wang recovered from a set and an early break down in Cincinnati, attacked Vekic’s second serve and won 3-6 6-1 6-4. Vekic still leads their series 2-1, but Wang now knows the first wave can pass without taking the whole beach with it.
Vekic’s serve-plus-forehand pattern may again put her ahead early. Over three sets, though, Wang looks better equipped to extend service games, test the movement and keep choosing the proactive shot when momentum turns.
Prediction: Xinyu Wang to win, odds 1.88
