Our WTA Chicago Day 4 predictions include a headline event between Olympic Silver Medalist Marketa Vondrousova and dangerous Belgian Alison Van Uytvanck. Three top seeds fell in the first round in Chicago, but will that trend continue? We take a look at what to expect from everyone involved in Thursday’s action in The Windy City.
WTA Chicago Day 4 Predictions
Tereza Martincova vs Su-Wei Hsieh
Head-to-head: First meeting
This should be a great watch. Martincova is having a breakout year on the tour and has finally cracked the top 100 in the women’s game. Hsieh to is enjoying something of a breakout year, having made her first grand slam quarterfinal in Melbourne earlier this year. Hsieh has an awkward game that is enough to upset the rhythm of anyone. However, on hard courts I am inclined to go with Martincova as she has more firepower in her arsenal and will be playing with great confidence given the year she is putting together. This will likely go the distance, but Martincova should just edge it.
Prediction: Martincova in 3
Jasmine Paolini vs Alize Cornet
Head-to-head: 1 – 0 Cornet
Cornet should be the favorite here. The Frenchwoman is a better hardcourt player and hits a hard, flat ball off both wings which should reap rewards on these courts. Paolini is a talented player, but is yet to prove herself a serious threat on surfaces other than clay in her young career. Given that lack of hard court success, Cornet seems to be the safe pick to move on here.
Prediction: Cornet in 2
Rebecca Peterson vs Viktorija Golubic
Head-to-head: 1-1
This match features two players in completely contrasting form. Golubic is putting together what could well be a career year for her. A string of solid results throughout the year has seen the Swiss rocket back inside the women’s top 100 and pick up some great wins along the way. Conversely, Peterson is desperately trying to string together a run of wins after injuries and poor form have left her struggling for much of the last year. Peterson is a talented player when at her best and can trouble almost anyone. She hasn’t found that level in a while but players of her talent normally come good at some point in the year and I think this tournament may be that time for her. I suspect this will be a one-sided affair whichever way it goes, but I think the Swede emerges victorious and strings together a good run here.
Prediction: Peterson in 2
Marketa Vondrousova vs Alison Van Uytvanck
Head-to-head: 1-1
It’s very hard to pick against someone who has just won a Silver Medal at the Olympics, so I won’t. Vondrousova has looked destined to become one of the top players in women’s tennis ever since her brilliant run at Roland Garros in 2019. Injuries have hampered her ascent somewhat, but her run in Tokyo showed us all that her game is still there and it is only a matter of time before she is in the mix for big trophies on a regular basis. Van Uytvanck is a dangerous opponent, particularly on hard courts that reward her flat, aggressive groundstrokes. However, Vondrousova has too many weapons available to her and should be able to employ them effectively enough to come through this unscathed. It might be tight, but the Czech should emerge victorious in the end.
Prediction: Vondrousova in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
