A mix of seeded players and in-form contenders take the court as first-round action gets underway at WTA Osaka. The quick conditions favour those who play on the front foot and look to seize control early, though composure and smart shot selection will still be vital in matches that promise to be tightly contested. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the slate, including Naomi Osaka vs Wakana Sonobe, but who will advance?

WTA Osaka Day 1 Predictions

Nao Hibino vs Olga Danilovic

Head-to-head: first meeting

Nao Hibino will be hoping home support can spark a turnaround after a tough few months marked by early exits on tour. The Japanese player’s fighting spirit is never in doubt, but her consistency has been missing since the summer. Olga Danilo

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