The WTA Tour rolls on with a 500-level event in Merida, Mexico, with the Merida Open. Founded in 2023, WTA Merida has made the move from a WTA 250 event to WTA 500 and draws a solid field of some of the top women in the world. As always, we at LWOT offer our preview and prediction for every match on the slate. But who will advance?

WTA Merida Day 2 Predictions
Zeynep Sonmez vs Cadence Brace

Head-to-Head: first meeting

23-year-old Zeynep Sonmez has all the tools to become a top 20 player in the future. Right now it’s all about consistency. She squares off against 20-year-old qualifier Cadence Brace of Canada, who is playing in her third career tour-level match. I have only seen Brace play a few times, but she strikes the ball incredibly cleanly and was one of the top juniors in the world. I’ll pick the upset here.

Predictions: Brace in 3

Donna Vekic vs Cristina Bucsa

Head-to-Head: Vukic 1-2 Bucsa

Last year in Merida, Donna Vekic was No. 20 in the world. She currently sits at No. 100, holding a 2-7 tour-level record since the US Open. Cristina Bucsa does not come to WTA Merida with much better form, having dropped her last five matches. This one is truly a toss-up. I will side with Vekic, whom I trust more on a hard court.

Prediction: Vekic in 3

Shuai Zhang vs Varvara Lepchenko

Head-to-Head: Zhang 4-2 Lepchenko

Former world No. 22 Shuai Zhang is 37 and still competing on the WTA Tour. She breezed through qualifying and is finally coming into form after dropping her previous five matches. Varvara Lepchenko, another WTA Merida qualifier, will see this match as a massive opportunity. The 39-year-old has won just eight tour-level matches since 2018. These two veterans will battle, but I give Zhang the slight edge.

Prediction: Zhang in 3

Sloane Stephens vs Renata Zarazua

Head-to-Head: Zarazua 2-0 Stephens

After playing only six matches in 2025 (and winning none of them), 32-year-old Sloane Stephens is looking for a resurgence this season. She won three matches to reach the main draw of the Australian Open, but in the preceding event, she lost to Renata Zarazua in the first round of Auckland. Zarazua will be the home favorite at WTA Merida and comes to this match having played ten more matches than Stephens in 2026. That form and confidence should lead her to victory.

Prediction: Zarazua in 2

Main Photo Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran – USA TODAY Sports