Day 4 of the WTA Berlin Open features a fantastic lineup with three Grand Slam champions in action and a particularly interesting Kerber vs Azarenka matchup. Let’s see what we think is going to happen!
WTA Berlin Open Day 4 Predictions
Garbine Muguruza vs Elena Rybakina
Head-to-head: 0-0
A first meeting between the former Wimbledon champion and the up-and-comer Rybakina coming off a Roland Garros quarterfinal. The Spaniard, now ranked outside the Top 10, has had a hard first half of the year. Her only real highlight is winning the title in Dubai. Many expected her to turn it up on the clay and potentially have a big run at Roland Garros again, but that wasn’t the case. Rybakina, however, was stunning in Paris despite a bad year up until that point. Her win vs Serena Williams was a top five performance with huge serving and powerful groundstrokes. That’s exactly why I believe Rybakina to the surprise of many will get the win here, her game is a lot more suited to grass than people may already realize.
Prediction: Rybakina in 3
Karolina Pliskova vs Jessica Pegula
Head-to-head: Pegula 3-0
Yes, for the fourth time in four months these two are meeting. Unbelievably Pegula has won all three of their previous matches. In the first two of those meetings the Czech won just four and two games before taking a set in Miami despite losing. Whilst Pliskova’s career is somewhat going backwards from the times she was competing for Grand Slams and at the very top of the game, it’s not hard to see Pegula exposing the big Czech’s movement and return. But unlike all their previous meetings, all on clay, this being on grass will aid the 29-year-old’s serve–one of the best in the game–and she’ll desperately need it.
Prediction: Pliskova in 3
Veronika Kudermetova vs Liudmila Samsonova
Head-to-head: 0-0
Definitely not a match people were expecting in Berlin, but no doubt a huge chance for one of these two Russian ladies. Kudermetova no doubt is the favourite and despite being 24 years of age many believe she has a lot of untapped potential still to be seen. She had a great win over #22 Muchova in the last round and despite Samsonova coming through the qualifying draw and having a great week here thus far, she shouldn’t really pose too much threat to her older compatriot.
Prediction: Kudermetova in 2
Angelique Kerber vs Victoria Azarenka
Head-to-head: Azarenka 9-1
Despite both being past their best, on paper it’s no doubt a match that still turns a lot of heads. With both these women you never quite know what version of them will show up. When both play well, the German is by far the better grass courter and we’ve seen that several times in the past en route to a Wimbledon title. Shockingly, Azarenka leads the head-to-head 9-1 including their only grass court encounter eight years ago. These days unfortunately Kerber can be somewhat of an unforced error machine and beat herself, highlighted by not even winning three matches in a row so far this year. No doubt the Belarusian is favorite here.
Prediction: Azarenka in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
