Eight first-round matches are scheduled on day two at WTA Tokyo so there should be plenty of entertaining tennis for the fans to enjoy. As ever, we at LWOT will offer predictions for every match on the slate, including Naomi Osaka vs Jasmine Paolini, but which players will advance?
WTA Tokyo Day 2 Predictions
Nikola Bartunkova vs Aliaksandra Sasnovich
Head-to-head: first meeting
20-year-old Nikola Bartunkova has enjoyed a breakout season and will look to end it on a high note with a good run this week at WTA Tokyo. She lost in the second round of the Wuhan Open, but she will be much fresher and more prepared after a break. Aliaksandra Sasnovich, meanwhile, has found some form recently and played two solid matches to beat Yuliia Starodubtseva and Kamilla Rakhimova to reach the WTA Tokyo main draw. Bartunkova will have to be at her best to avoid an upset against the experienced Belarusian, but she is a good enough player to win this match.
Prediction: Bartunkova in 3
Ekaterina Alexandrova vs Ann Li
Head-to-head: Alexandrova 3-1 Li
Ekaterina Alexandrova is making her third appearance at WTA Tokyo, and she has never lost before the quarterfinals here. 2026 has been a mixed bag for the Russian, but she will look to capitalise on her recent momentum and finish the season on a high at a tournament she clearly enjoys visiting. Ann Li, however, is coming off strong showings in Wuhan and Osaka and will look to get her second win over Alexandrova in a head-to-head the Russian has had the better of. But the American is in good form and might just have the edge in this one.
Prediction: Li in 3
Tennis – U.S. Open – Flushing Meadows, New York, United States – September 4, 2026 Ann Li of the U.S. in action during her third round match against Czech Republic’s Linda Noskova IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Jerry Lai
Leylah Fernandez vs Himeno Sakatsume
Head-to-head: first meeting
Leylah Fernandez will be in action just two days after her fantastic run to the finals of the WTA Ningbo Open. The Canadian is in excellent form, but she has played eight matches in the last 15 days, several of which were lengthy three-setters. However, she has an easy first-round match on paper against Himeno Sakatsume, who has never defeated a top-25 player in her career and is probably not quite good enough to compete at this level. Fernandez’s form and experience should help her prevail against outmatched opposition.
Prediction: Fernandez in 2
Sorana Cirstea vs Maya Joint
Head-to-head: Cirstea 1-1 Joint
36-year-old Sorana Cirstea is having the strongest season of her long career and will look to give it her all in the final weeks of her professional career. Her recent form hasn’t been as strong as it was for most of 2026, but if she can find her level, she will be tough to beat here. Maya Joint came through qualifying and has been in decent form lately. She handily defeated Cirstea in Toronto in August, but I believe Cirstea will avenge her loss and reach the next round.
Prediction: Cirstea in 2
Main photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images