With 12 matches on the schedule on day three at the WTA Montreal Open, there should be plenty of entertaining action for the fans in Quebec. As ever, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the schedule, including Aryna Sabalenka vs Sloane Stephens and Johanna Konta vs Elina Svitolina. But who will reach the third round?
WTA Montreal Day 3 Predictions
Paula Badosa vs Rebecca Marino
Head-to-head: first meeting
Rebecca Marino was able to capitalise on a below-par performance from Madison Keys (one of several the injury-hit American has turned in this season) to pick up a 6-3 6-3 win on home turf. Although she is no longer the standard bearer for Canadian women’s tennis, Marino demonstrated throughout her win over Keys that she can still compete at the highest level and she will surely be desperate to build on that win by going deep at the WTA Montreal Open.
But where Keys has been plagued by inconsistency, Paula Badosa is in career-best form. The Spaniard reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros and the Tokyo Olympics, as well as the fourth round at Wimbledon. Her Olympic campaign ended in retirement, but she did not appear to be suffering from any lingering ill effects as she swept Viktorija Golubic aside for the loss of only five games in the first round in Montreal. If she can maintain that level, she should have too much for Marino.
Prediction: Badosa in 2
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Karolina Pliskova vs Donna Vekic
Head-to-head: Pliskova 5-1 Vekic
The next few weeks feel big for Karolina Pliskova. The Czech was revitalised at Wimbledon, where she responded to falling outside the top ten for the first time since 2016 by reaching her first final at the All England Club and her second overall at the Grand Slams. She fell just short there against Ashleigh Barty, but if she can continue to play with such authority she may well like her chances of going one better in New York, where she was a runner-up in 2016.
First, however, she must find a way past Donna Vekic. The Croatian scored a big upset by beating Aryna Sabalenka at the US Open and after losing her next two matches, she made a return to winning ways by thrashing Alison van Uytvanck 6-1 6-2 in her opener in Montreal. But she has lost her last five matches against Pliskova, including in straight sets earlier this year at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. In her preferred conditions she should be more competitive, but it is hard to ignore such a one-sided head-to-head.
Prediction: Pliskova in 3
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Cori Gauff vs Anastasia Potapova
Head-to-head: Gauff 1-0 Potapova
There is no doubt that Anastasia Potapova is a player with a bright future. After all, she is ranked inside the top 100 (just about) and will not turn 21 until next March. But the Russian also appears to have fallen slightly behind the curve. Particularly in comparison with Cori Gauff who, despite being three years younger than Potapova, is ranked 76 places higher in the world rankings. Already this season, she has reached the quarterfinals in Paris and the fourth round at Wimbledon.
However, Potapova should not be underestimated heading into this match. The Russian is having a fine week at the WTA Montreal Open, having come through the qualifying with wins over Layne Sleeth and Kristina Mladenovic before ousting the hard-hitting Shelby Rogers in the first round of the main draw. She also took a set off Gauff in their only previous meeting, which came at the US Open in 2019. But Gauff won that match and she should once again have enough to get over the line.
Prediction: Gauff in 3
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Ons Jabeur vs Daria Kasatkina
Head-to-head: Kasatkina 2-1 Jabeur
After their first three meetings – which came at the Rio Olympics and in the final in St Petersburg in 2018 and Birmingham earlier this season – battling for a place in the third round at the WTA Montreal Open may seem relatively low stakes for Ons Jabeur and Daria Kasatkina. But both will of course have high hopes of going deep this week, particularly with the final Major of the season the US Open now looming large on the horizon.
Jabeur started her campaign with a comprehensive 6-1 6-3 win over the outmatched Clara Burel, whilst Kasatkina beat the experienced Petra Martic 7-5 6-3. Both look to be in good form then. But it is unquestionably Jabeur who has had the better season. The Tunisian hands are as good as anyone’s on the WTA Tour and she can also inject considerable power into her groundstrokes when she needs to. Kasatkina has a similar skillset, but right now Jabeur is the more effective practitioner.
Prediction: Jabeur in 3
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