With a host of star names set to take to the court and 16 matches on the schedule, there is lots to look forward to on day three at the Tokyo Olympics. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the slate, including Wang Qiang vs Garbine Muguruza, Viktorija Golubic vs Naomi Osaka and Aryna Sabalenka vs Donna Vekic. But who will advance to the last 16?
Tokyo Olympics Day 3 Predictions
Leylah Fernandez vs Barbora Krejcikova
Jim: Leylah Fernandez was excellent in her first-round win over Dayana Yastremska, but the Canadian may need to find an even higher level if she is to get the better of French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova. Can she do it? It’s not impossible, but it doesn’t look very likely either.
Prediction: Krejcikova in 2
Steen: Fernandez struggles for consistency, Krejcikova is on a long winning streak and playing some incredible tennis right now. A medal looks to be in the cards for the Czech player and she won’t falter here.
Prediction: Krejcikova in 2
Yesh: Fernandez got herself out of her recent funk with a great performance in the third set against Yastremska. Unfortunately, now she has to face the most in-form player on tour. The French Open champion will move on.
Prediction: Krejcikova in 2
Elena Vesnina vs Camila Giorgi
Jim: Elena Vesnina has been scoring some excellent wins of late and she added another by beating Jelena Ostapenko in the first round at the Tokyo Olympics. Camila Giorgi will pose the Russian a similar test, but has been playing well enough of late that she may well prove to be a challenge too far for Vesnina.
Prediction: Giorgi in 3
Steen: Giorgi trails in the head-to-head 1-2, but her form is slightly better heading into this match. Vesnina is capable but I’m still more comfortable with Giorgi.
Prediction: Giorgi in 3
Yesh: People keep underestimating Vesnina since her return, but maybe it’s time for that to stop. Giorgi has the game to beat just about anyone, but consistency is an issue.
Prediction: Vesnina in 3
Karolina Pliskova vs Carla Suarez Navarro
Jim: Carla Suarez Navarro may be heading into retirement at the end of this season, but the Spaniard showed that she can still be a factor on the WTA Tour with a vintage performance to oust Os Jabeur in straight sets. Her reward is a shot at Karolina Pliskova. She will need to be at her very best once again, but even that may not be enough against the Czech.
Prediction: Pliskova in 3
Steen: Pliskova leads the head-to-head 4-3 and has won the last three meetings and the Wimbledon finalist is also in fantastic form. Suarez Navarro is an incredible story overcoming cancer, but she’s a serious underdog here.
Prediction: Pliskova in 2
Yesh: Yesh: Suarez Navarro is ending her career on her own terms. She played a brilliant match to take out Jabeur in the opener. I don’t care what I actually think––I don’t have the heart to pick against her.
Prediction: Suarez Navarro in 3
Iga Swiatek vs Paula Badosa
Jim: This could prove to be the match of the round. Iga Swiatek is of course the favourite coming into the match, but Paula Badosa’s chances should not be dismissed out of hand. The Spaniard enjoyed a fine summer on the clay and grass, and she impressed in her battling first-round win over Kristina Mladenovic. Still, if Swiatek can find her best tennis (or something close to it) she should prove too strong for the Spaniard.
Prediction: Swiatek in 3
Steen: A highly anticipated match, Badosa and Swiatek are both in excellent form, both players transitioning very well from clay to grass and now hard courts. Swiatek is the more accomplished player and should have a small edge in their first meeting, this match really belongs in the later rounds.
Prediction: Swiatek in 3
Yesh: It’s unfortunate that this is a second-round match. Both players are incredibly talented, though Swiatek hits the ball more cleanly right now. Expect this to be a major matchup in the future, especially on clay.
Prediction: Swiatek in 3
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