We are now in the second half of the Grand Prix series, and that means Grand Prix Final spots are starting to get decided in all instances. There’s one skater here who can lock up a spot in the Grand Prix Final already, and several others who can put themselves in really good positions to get there. Of note is the current Russian champion, Anna Shcherbakova, who is undefeated so far this season. After winning Skate America, can she go two-for-two on the Grand Prix?
Cup of China predictions
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GOLD Anna Shcherbakova RUS - Of the three phenoms from Russia debuting on the senior level this season, Shcherbakova is the one with the most in-competition jitters, and arguably the one who is often overlooked. Trusova is the technical powerhouse and Kostornaia is the immaculate artist, and in a lot of ways, Shcherbakova brings a bit of the two together. She’s got that quad lutz that will bring her technical score up in the free skate. And it’s likely that she will trail after the short program because quads are not allowed in the ladies’ short. She will have to play the comeback game in the free, which as we’ve seen twice this season already, is plenty possible.
SILVER Young You KOR - It’s been a historic season for You so far - at Skate Canada two weeks ago, she became the 11th woman and first Korean woman to land a triple axel in international competition. She also grabbed her first Grand Prix medal there, a bronze, to add to the two Challenger Series medals she’s earned this season. With another medal here, she’s got a look at a Grand Prix Final berth. It’s been a really promising senior debut for her, especially considering that her last two seasons on the junior level didn’t live up to the expectations she set ever since she won her first South Korean national title four seasons ago at age 11.
BRONZE Elizaveta Tuktamysheva RUS - Starting with a bronze at Skate America, Tuktamysheva is trying to figure out where she fits in this season among her teammates, including Shcherbakova, who are making waves with the big jumps. Tuktamysheva is no stranger to pushing the technical envelop herself - she’s got three triple axels planned in her two programs this season, but her components have stagnated. That will be the disadvantage she will need to break through this week. Like You, she’s got a chance at the Final, especially if she can find herself with a silver.
4. Satoko Miyahara JPN - It’s something of a transitional and experimental season for the two-time World medalist. Knowing that she needs to light a fire under her technical content, she’s added Lee Barkell to her coaching team and relocated to Toronto. Even her programs this season are a departure for her, with her short program being the more experimental of the two. Given the technical prowess of her competition here, this week may not end in a podium finish for Miyahara, but if she is able to get her jumps in line, she certainly has a great shot at grabbing a medal.
5. Marin Honda JPN - The belief may be returning for Honda, who is trying to find the confidence in the reworked technique in her jumps. Her tenth-place start in the short program at Skate Canada was indicative of that lack of confidence in her training, and her subsequent sixth-place finish was a huge step forward in her trust of her new technique. She was also involved in a car accident when she was on her way from the airport to Skate Canada, so she was likely feeling the lingering effects of that incident. Signs are (hopefully) pointing up for the former World junior champ.
6. Sofia Samodurova RUS - What a season it was last year for Samodurova, who made it to the Grand Prix Final, won Europeans, and finished in the top eight at her first Worlds. But her season so far has not been as brilliant as it was last year. She was one of the most consistent skaters last season, and it was the key to her success, especially as she was trying to make her mark on the Grand Prix. The consistency is not quite at that level yet, and it will need to be there for her to be competitive here.
7. Amber Glenn USA - She had a strong start to her season with a bronze at US Classic, bolstered by a really solid short program. Glenn’s issues have always stemmed from inconsistency, especially in the free. She knows very well that she has all the goods to deliver clean programs, but it’s been tough for her to stay focused throughout. She was seventh at Skate America a few weeks ago.
8. Kailani Craine AUS - After not getting an assignment on the Grand Prix, Craine was a late addition to Cup of China after Mai Mihara withdrew. She finished in the top five in both of her Challenger Series events this season so far.
9. Yi Zhu CHN - There will be a lot of interest in the Grand Prix debut of Yi Zhu, who is better known in American circles as Beverly Zhu. When she was still competing for the US, she was the 2018 US novice champion, brimming with potential. She made the nationality switch to China a year ago, and this will be her first senior international event.
10. Yi Christy Leung HKG - Ninth at Skate America a few weeks ago, Leung has shown loads of potential in the technical department but has had a tough time getting it together in competition.
11. Yujin Choi KOR - We haven’t seen Choi in international competition since around this time last year, when she was on the Challenger Series. She is making her senior Grand Prix debut this week.
12. Hongyi Chen CHN - Chen made her Worlds debut last season and finished 19th. She will be in her first senior Grand Prix this week in her home country.