Wednesday saw the first ball struck at the WTA Nottingham Open, as the action was moved indoors. The weather has definitely been the winner so far. #2 seed Croatian Donna Vekic achieved a hard-fought three-set victory. Despite throwing away the second set, she dispatched Slovenian Dalila Jakupovic 6-2 6-7 6-0. The 2017 champ, Vekic didn’t seem to benefit from the move indoors and will be hoping to get her feet on the grass soon. However, once focused she bagelled her opponent in the final set and it will give her momentum to carry forward into her next match.
Finally, Day 1 matches have been completed. Day 4 is jam-packed with intriguing matches, in the hope of the first un-interrupted day of tennis.
WTA Nottingham Day 4 Predictions
Elena Gabriela Ruse vs Viktorija Golubic
Head-to-head: first meeting
World #221, Romanian Elena Gabriela Ruse, will be hoping that this match can be played on the scheduled grass surface, rather than indoors. Ruse is 2-0 for the season on grass (not including her Day 3 1st round win over Evgeniya Rodina that was moved indoors to hard-court), by courtesy of two straight sets qualifying victories here. Ruse finished the last grass court season with an eye-catching 6-3 record.
The World #85, Swiss Viktorija Golubic, is not a natural grass courter and doesn’t tend to move well on the surface. Shell be hoping that the match moves indoors, for sure. Ruse should take this one.
Prediction: Ruse in 2
Chloé Paquet vs Donna Vekic
Head-to-head: first meeting
The #2 seed Donna Vekic switched off in the second set of her first round match and is another player who will want to play on the grass. Frence’s World #168 Paquet will probably being doing a rain dance ahead of this match-up. Moving the match to indoor hard-courts would go a little way towards leveling the playing field and reducing the impact of the gulf in class. It won’t be enough though; this should be comfortable for the 2017 champion Vekic.
Prediction: Vekic in 2
Caroline Garcia vs Maia Lumsden
Head-to-head: first meeting
Top seed Caroline Garcia didn’t waste much time in putting Naiktha Bains to the sword in the first round. She now faces another Brit, Scotland’s Maia Lumsden. Indubitably, Lumsden benefited from the switching surfaces to indoor hard-court, when winning the battle of the Brits over Tara Moore 6-3 7-6. It’s extremely difficult to see the Brit dealing with Garcia’s range and power.
Prediction: Garcia in 2
Harriet Dart vs Ajla Tomljanovic
Head-to-head: first meeting
Harriet Dart enjoyed her Fed Cup debut this year, and relishes playing in front of a British crowd. Despite playing irregularly of late due to injury, she looked poised and strong in seeing off the tricky Vera Lapko in three sets in the first round. This is a tricky match against #6 seed Ajla Tomljanovic, whose serve seems to be clicking into gear. Harriet Dart may not quite have enough to win this one.
Prediction: Tomljanovic in 3
Main Photo:
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