The middle of the week is arriving with yet a main draw ball to be struck in anger or frustration in Nottingham. Day 1 and day 2 match predictions are still awaiting a resolution. There is hope that Wednesday will see at least some play. Obviously it needs to as the matches pile up. Here’s selections from some of the matches scheduled for at least some play on what should be Day 3 at the WTA Nottingham Open.
WTA Nottingham Day 3 Predictions
Ajla Tomljanovic vs Danielle Lao
Head-to-head: Tomljanovic 5-0 Lao
The history between world #47 Ajla Tomljanovic and the American W orld #164 started in 2009. It includes three 2017 victories for the Australian, but there have been no meetings on grass. Tomljanovic finished last season with a 5-3 win-loss grass record and is having a consistent, if unspectacular so thus far. She should progress to Round 2.
Prediction: Tomljanovic in 2
Monica Niculescu vs Tatjana Maria
Head-to-head: first meeting
Romanian World #144 Monica Niculescu returns to action having last played in Rabat late April. She was originally down to play Yulia Putintseva prior to the Kazakh’s late withdrawal. In all likelihood she would have preferred that match-up instead of having to face the gritty and stoic German Tatjana Mari,a who has consistently maintain a plus win-loss record on grass since 2014. This will be a tough return for Niculescu in the clash of the 31-year-olds.
Prediction: Maria in 2
Chloe Paquet vs Evgeniya Rodina
Head-to-head: first meeting
(Editor’s Note: Rodina withdrew from the tournament before this match and was replaced by Ankita Raina.)
Lucky loser World #168 Chloe Paquet benefits from Putintseva’s withdrawal. She is worthy of a main draw place by virtue of a run to the semifinals in Strasbourg. However, even though the Russian world #76 Evgeniya Rodina comes into this tournament on the back of a five-match losing streak, she will have been chomping at the bit to return to grass. Rodina had a dream run to the last 16 at Wimbledon last year. She is only eight ranking places shy of her best ever of World #67. She can use the return to grass to turn her season around.
Prediction: Rodina in 2
Kristina Mladenovic vs Magdalena Frech
Head-to-head: first meeting
France’s Kristina Mladenovic topped becoming the World #1 doubles player by winning the French Open doubles title with Timea Babos. Her singles form is starting to recover from a dip, as a run to the quarterfinals in Rome testifies. Polish 21-year-old Magdalena Frech, with her solid groundstrokes, could have a good grass court season and is playing with more maturity of late. She could sneak this.
Prediction: Frech in 3
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