The second round of the WTA Budapest Grand Prix gets underway on Wednesday. Two of the five remaining seeds are in action, with top seed Yulia Putintseva headlining the day’s play. The tournament has already featured some surprise results, although that is to be expected given the transition from grass to clay. Nonetheless, most of the big names in the tournament are playing good tennis. Whether that continues to be the case will be discussed here in our WTA Hungarian Grand Prix day three predictions.
WTA Budapest Day 3 Predictions
Paula Ormaechea vs Ivana Jorovic
Head-to-head: Ormaechea 1-0 Jorovic
This match represents and incredible opportunity for both of these women. They are both well outside the top 100 in the women’s game and could desperately do with a good run here to rise up the rankings. A quarterfinal birth in any tour-level tournament is a significant opportunity that neither will want to squander.
Paula Ormaechea has been inside the top 100 before with a career-best ranking of #62. However, that was some time ago and Ivana Jorovic has been the more successful of the two in recent years. It’s hard to call a match between to players relatively unknown on the main tour, but Jorovic looks to have more to her game and should be able to get through this one.
Prediction: Jorovic in 3
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Olga Danilovic vs Irina Bara
Head-to-head: Bara 1-0 Danilovic
Olga Danilovic has shown real promise so far in 2021. The 20-year-old managed to qualify for the Australian Open and the Miami Open earlier in the year. She is also at her most comfortable on clay which bodes well for this match and the tournament in general. However, her form has dipped in recent weeks and she is up against an opponent who is equally adept on the red dirt in Irina Bara.
Bara is currently enjoying a career high ranking of #119 on the back of yet more strong results on clay this year. The Romanian relies heavily on the surface to keep her inside the top 200 in the world, but doesn’t seem to have the game to push on from there. Danilovic looks like she may have what it takes to break into the top 100 this year if the right opportunity presents itself. This tournament is exactly that. Expect her to grab the chance with both hands.
Prediction: Danilovic in 3
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Kateryna Kozlova vs Ana Bogdan
Head-to-head: Bogdan 1-0 Kozlova
A match of talented but inconsistent players lies in store in this second round matchup. Both Kateryna Kozlova and Ana Bogdan have managed to make their way inside the top 100 in the women’s game at various stages in their careers. However, neither has managed to push on and make serious inroads at the top level. Kozlova has a big game and great hitting power when harnessed effectively.
Conversely, Bogdan is an incredibly mover on the court and a great counterpuncher. If both are playing well this should be a good match to watch, The match lies on Kozlova’s racket even though she is currently the lower ranked of the two. For that reason the Ukrainian should just about have the edge, but Bogdan could very easily turn this match on it’s head.
Prediction: Kozlova in 3
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Yulia Putintseva vs Ana Konjuh
Head-to-head: Konjuh 2-0 Putintseva
This could well be the match of the tournament so it’s a shame it’s happening so early on. A resurgent Ana Konjuh – who could well make a case for being the best player in Budapest apart from the top-seeded Putintseva – takes on the Kazakh in what should be a great contest. Konjuh was a teen sensation before injuries derailed her promising career. Several strong showings this year have resurrected that though and she looks primed to charge back up the rankings in the women’s game.
However, if she is to do so here she must get past one of the fiercest competitors in women’s tennis. Putintseva is a ball of energy and competitive sport who never backs down from a fight. The Kazakh is a great mover and possesses great variety, particularly on clay. Konjuh has a higher ceiling and is in great form this year whilst Putintseva has struggled on clay for the most part this season. For that reason Konjuh should be accounted the favourite, but this really could go either way.
Prediction: Konjuh in 2
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