Day 4 of the WTA Yarra Valley Classic on Wednesday brings some heavy-hitting matchups between top players. All four matches predicted are first-time meetings giving fans fresh matchups to start the season. The top player in the world Ash Barty is in action for the first time this season, as well as 2019 Australian Open semifinalist Karolina Pliskova, and finalist Petra Kvitova. The WTA field is still deep as ever, so these players will look to prove that they have what it takes to compete next week for the Australian Open. We have predictions for all of those player’s matches including an upset, as well as the rest of the day’s action.
WTA Yarra Valley Classic Day 4 Predictions
Ashleigh Barty vs Marie Bouzkova
Head-to-head: First meeting
Bouzkova is an up-and-coming potential star on the WTA Tour who has shown the firepower to beat top players, but inconsistencies have prevented her from stringing together enough results to stay in the top-50. Barty is the #1 player in the world thanks to the rankings freeze, but she is a wild card playing her first tournament in 11 months. Bouzkova did not play her best in the return to tennis in late 2020, and Barty’s controlled groundstrokes make her game easier to shake off the rust. Barty looked comfortable in her first match back and is talented enough she has the game to win easily.
Prediction: Barty in 2
Nadia Podoroska vs Petra Kvitova
Head-to-head: First meeting
Kvitova, a finalist at the Australian Open in 2019, will be looking to refine her game this week for another run at the trophy. She impressed in limited time in late-2020 with a fourth-round appearance at the US Open and a semifinal run at Roland Garros. Podoroska had a breakthrough 2020, finishing the season inside the top-50 after starting the year ranked #258, highlighted by her run from qualifying to the semifinal at the French Open. Podoorska has looked good this week winning all four sets comfortably, but she is primarily a clay court player and will struggle with Kvitova’s big serve and powerful forehand.
Prediction: Kvitova in 2
Marketa Vondrousova vs Vera Zvonareva
Head-to-head: First meeting
Vondrousova comes in as a big favorite on paper with her seeding and top-25 world ranking. However, she is one of the players most helped by the rankings freeze, allowing her to continue to enjoy ranking privileges due to an excellent 2020. Zvonareva is a doubles specialist who has played a bit more singles recently. The Russian has been impressive but has struggled to win several matches in a row due to challenging draws. She played well in her first two matches and is sure to give Vondrousova fits in a match that could go either way. Vondrousova looks to have her feet back under her this week and will have just enough game to pull out a close one.
Prediction: Vondrousova in 3
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Karolina Pliskova vs Danielle Collins
Head-to-head: First meeting
Pliskova is always one of the most dangerous hard court players in the world, but she has been in a bit of a rut, going 2-4 on the surface since the return to tennis last year including a shock loss to world #230 Anastasia Gasanova last month. Collins lost her two hard court matches in late-2020, but had an impressive run to the French Open quarterfinals. The American has played well this week, dispatching both her opponents in straight sets without dropping more than three games in any set. Pliskova seems to be struggling and has not yet gotten her game together, and Collins, while sometimes inconsistent, has proven to be a dangerous player and this matchup is prime for an upset.
Prediction: Collins in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
