Day three at the WTA Lyon Open will see both the conclusion of the first round and the start of the last 16, with five matches on the schedule at the Palais des Sports de Gerland Lyon. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the slate. But who will book their place in the quarterfinals at this WTA 250 event?
WTA Lyon Open Day Three Predictions
Vera Lapko vs Viktorija Golubic
Head-to-head: Lapko 1-0 Golubic
On paper this looks like a straightforward win for Viktorija Golubic. The Swiss is, after all, ranked 150 places above her opponent, Vera Lapko, and is far more experienced on the WTA Tour. However, when the pair met last year at the US Open it was Lapko who emerged victorious, winning in three sets.
Neither has played much tennis on the main tour so far this year, which suggests that this might be a close contest. However, Golubic came through the qualifying at the WTA Lyon Open and will be more familiar with the conditions as a result. That, combined with her greater experience, should be enough to see her come away with the win here.
Prediction: Golubic in 3
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Clara Burel vs Alize Cornet
Head-to-head: first meeting
Clara Burel received a wild card at the WTA Lyon Open in 2020 despite being ranked well outside the top 500 in the world. She lost to Oceane Dodin in the first round, but played well and it’s no surprise that she has soared up the rankings since. She now sits just outside the top 200 and will be hopeful of improving on that with a decent run this week.
She will open her campaign against the veteran Alize Cornet. Cornet, a solid baseliner, is more often let down by a lack of mental toughness than weaknesses in her game. If she manages to keep focused and calm in the key moments of the match she should come away with the win here. However, she has struggled to do that in recent months and Burel has more to play for. Expect the teenager to edge it.
Prediction: Burel in 3
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Clara Tauson vs Timea Babos
Head-to-head: first meeting
Clara Tauson will be on cloud nine after knocking out top seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in straight sets in the first round. The rising Danish star is clearly a special player and looks set for a big year given the level she is playing at. If she can avoid the dip that often follows big wins, she might even be able to go all the way and win the tournament.
In Timea Babos she faces an accomplished opponent, but one whose singles career has faltered despite considerable success on the doubles court. Babos does have a big forehand that could cause the Dane problems, however Tauson looks to be in a groove at the moment. Expect her to pick up another comfortable win here and to go deep in this tournament.
Prediction: Tauson in 2
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Camila Giorgi vs Nina Stojanovic
Head-to-head: first meeting
Both of these players picked up solid first-round wins over tough opposition. Camila Giorgi blasted Victoria Kuzmova off the court, an outcome that was not entirely unpredictable, whilst Nina Stojanovic’s game proved to be too big for Sorana Cirstea to handle. But with neither player amongst the most consistent performers, this match could either be fantastic to watch or unbearable.
But it seems more likely to be the former after both women performed so impressively in the first round. Giorgi, however, looks to be the favourite ahead of the match. Both women can red-line their games, but Giorgi can summon a little more power from both wings than Stojanovic can. That extra power should be the difference here and the Italian should move on.
Prediction: Giorgi in 3
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Tereza Martincova vs Fiona Ferro
Head-to-head: Ferro 1-1 Martincova
Fiona Ferro had to overcome a tough test against Magda Frech in the first round to book her place in the last 16. She now faces what looks like easier opposition on paper in Tereza Martincova. The Czech, after impressing in the qualifying, made hard work of her first-round match against Giulia Gatto-Monticone. She went for too much on too many shots when all she needed to do to win the point was play with margin and, as a result, she dropped a set she should not have.
If she plays that way again against Ferro, she will surely be dismantled. The Frenchwoman may still prefer the clay, but she is improving rapidly on hard courts. Her forehand is a real weapon and she is always consistent from the baseline, rarely going for too much or giving away points. This one may be quite one-sided unless Martincova starts painting lines with the shots she was missing wildly in her last match. That’s a big if though, so expect Ferro to advance here.
Prediction: Ferro in 2
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