There should be no shortage of entertaining action in store on day three at the China Open in Beijing. A number of star names are set to join the fray and valuable points in the race to Shenzhen are on offer. But who will come out on top and who will fall by the wayside in the Chinese capital?
China Open Day Three Predictions
Bianca Andreescu vs Aliaksandra Sasnovich
Head-to-head: first meeting
In her first match since beating Serena Williams to win the US Open, Canada’s Bianca Andreescu will be hoping to make a strong start to the Asian swing when she takes on Aliaksandra Sasnovich. 2019 has been a stunning season for the 19-year-old, who has also won titles in Indian Wells and Toronto despite battling injury. But she may not have things all her own way up against Sasnovich, who has played some fine tennis herself this season. That said, Andreescu has had time to recharge after her triumph in New York and should be ready to go again at the China Open. And if she is focused, she will surely have too much quality and variety for Sasnovich.
Prediction: Andreescu in 2
Embed from Getty Images
Caroline Wozniacki vs Lauren Davis
Head-to-head: Wozniacki 1-0 Davis
Caroline Wozniacki has endured more than her fair share of physical ailments in 2019, but her competitive fire remains undimmed. She showed as much in New York where she picked up two hard-fought wins against Wang Yafan and Danielle Collins before losing to eventual champion Andreescu in the third round. Lauren Davis too knows plenty about struggling with injury after battling against a succession of knee injuries throughout her career. But she has looked to be fit and firing so far in Beijing after coming through the qualifying without dropping a set. The American will surely be full of confidence and accustomed to the conditions as a result, which looks likely to spell trouble for the struggling Wozniacki.
Prediction: Davis in 3
Embed from Getty Images
Karolina Muchova vs Madison Keys
Head-to-head: first meeting
Both Karolina Muchova and Madison Keys have had impressive seasons and will likely view this as an unfortunate draw. The Czech, a Wimbledon quarterfinalist this year, was most recently in action at the Korea Open where she won the title, and she will surely be targeting a deep run at the China Open. But overcoming the power of Keys will be no mean feat. However, the Cincinnati champion’s fitness is uncertain after she retired from her quarterfinal clash with Angelique Kerber in Hiroshima before pulling out of the Wuhan Open. Unless she plays at her very best level in Beijing, Muchova has more than enough quality to take advantage.
Prediction: Muchova in 3
Embed from Getty Images
Belinda Bencic vs Venus Williams
Head-to-head: Williams 4-1 Bencic
Venus Williams came to the very brink of defeat in the first round against Barbora Strycova, but engineered an impressive 6-3 4-6 7-5 win after breaking Strycova when the Czech served for the match in the decider. She will bring a 4-1 lead in her head-to-head with Bencic into their second-round clash, but the Swiss young gun may well feel confident of overturning their history. After reaching the semifinals at the US Open, she looked someway short of her best in Wuhan, losing her opener to Veronika Kudermetova, but put that defeat behind her at the China Open by dismissing Hsieh Su-wei. Williams may still have formidable power, but Bencic should be able to outmanoeuvre and outlast the veteran.
Prediction: Bencic in 2
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
