Before making your fantasy picks for the 2019 Zhengzhou Open, check out the expert picks from Tamarine Tanasugarn, the former World No.19 who became Thailand’s first Grand Slam quarterfinalist at Wimbledon in 2008, and won four WTA singles titles and eight doubles titles, as well as two silver medals at the Asian Games.
Elina Svitolina
“My first choice is Elina Svitolina, who is coming off a great run to the semifinals at the US Open, which must give her lots of confidence especially after also reaching the semis at Wimbledon. I like the way she moves, and she has been playing more aggressively.”
Karolina Pliskova
“Karolina has a big serve and big groundstrokes, and we know her game really suits the hardcourts. She lost a bit early at the US Open, where she was in contention to reclaim the WTA World No.1 ranking, and I think she will be ready to finish the season strongly in Asia.”
Wang Qiang
“My next pick is one for the home crowd in China – Wang Qiang. I like the way she moves around the court and watching her beat Ash Barty at the US Open, I think her game overall has improved a lot since I last saw her play. She was always consistent, but I like the way she is using her forehand to attack.”
Sofia Kenin
“Sonya has done so well over the summer hardcourt season and I love her mental focus and determination – even though she’s still young, she seems so mature on the court. I definitely have my eye on her for the future and she seems ready for a great Asian swing.”
Outsider Pick: Zheng Saisai
“My outsider pick is another one for the home crowd – Zheng Saisai! She plays with great variety and I was very happy with her performance at San Jose, where she won the biggest title of her career, and I think she will be very motivated to impress the Chinese fans!”
