There should be plenty of entertaining tennis on day three at the Tokyo Olympics. All 16 second-round matches are on the slate and, as ever, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every scheduled match, including Viktorija Golubic vs Naomi Osaka, Leylah Fernandez vs Barbora Krejcikova and Aryna Sabalenka vs Donna Vekic. But who will advance?
Tokyo Olympics Day 3 Predictions
Wang Qiang vs Garbine Muguruza
Jim: This has the makings of an entertaining match. But Garbine Muguruza will be the favourite coming into it. She negotiated a tough first-round draw adroitly, beating Veronika Kudermetova 7-5 7-5 and the conditions in Tokyo appear to suit her hard-hitting style. She will probably be pushed again here, but she should have the beating of Wang Qiang.
Prediction: Muguruza in 3
Steen: Wang leads the h2h 2-0, Muguruza has had a subpar season by her lofty standards and needs to be on upset watch here. The surface favours Muguruza though despite Wang’s good form.
Prediction: Muguruza in 3
Yesh: Muguruza has been in pretty good form all year, though she throws in tight matches too often. That means you can’t be too confident picking her, but there’s no reason to pick against her either.
Prediction: Muguruza in 2
Nadia Podoroska vs Ekaterina Alexandrova
Jim: Ekaterina Alexandrova had to work hard for her place in the second round, but the Russian impressed in rallying from a set down to beat Belgium’s Elise Mertens 4-6 6-4 6-4. If she can maintain the level she displayed in that match, she should have enough to get the better of Nadia Podoroska.
Prediction: Alexandrova in 2
Steen: Podoroska is in better form, Alexandrova won their match on hard courts in Miami this year though. This match should be close, I’ll give Podoroska an edge as she should be fresher.
Prediction: Podoroska in 3
Yesh: Podoroska had a breakout run at last year’s French Open. Her form has been good since, though not on that level. Alexandrova is very tough when she plays well, but she’s a bit too inconsistent.
Prediction: Podoroska in 3
Ajla Tomljanovic vs Elina Svitolina
Jim: Elina Svitolina just about scraped past Laura Siegemund, but it was not one of the Ukrainian’s more convincing performances. Ajla Tomljanovic, in contrast, looked sharp in beating Yaraslava Shvedova in straight sets. With the Australian in good form and Svitolina assuredly not, expect another seed to crash out here.
Prediction: Tomljanovic in 3
Steen: Svitolina has beaten Tomljanovic three times, but Tomljanovic is in better form, recently making the Wimbledon quarterfinals, and Svitolina struggled to get out of the first round. Although an upset may not seem likely, I’ll pick it anyway.
Prediction: Tomljanovic in 3
Prediction: Svitolina in 2
Petra Kvitova vs Alison Van Uytvanck
Jim: There should be plenty of winners in this match with both Petra Kvitova and Alison Van Uytvanck at their best when playing on the front foot. It may well go the distance and it is a match that Van Uytvanck could win, but Kvitova has the more reliable game and greater variety than the Belgian. That should prove decisive.
Prediction: Kvitova in 3
Steen: Kvitova won their only meeting and has a more accomplished resume. Van Uytvanck has been playing well but the safer pick is Kvitova.
Prediction: Kvitova in 3
Yesh: Kvitova was inspired by being her nation’s flag-bearer and she looks like she’s taken it to heart. Van Uytvanck doesn’t have the consistency to keep up with the Czech’s power.
Prediction: Kvitova in 2
Main photo:
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