Second round matchups commence on Day 3 of the WTA Copa Colsanitas in Bogota, Colombia. Wednesday’s action features a bunch of new names at this level of competition, huge opportunities exist for multiple players to break new grounds. Meanwhile, a couple of familiar names with hugely contrasting styles go head-to-head in the match of the day as Dayana Yastremska takes on Sara Errani. Who will advance to the quarterfinals?
WTA Bogota Day 3 Predictions
Yuliana Lizarazo vs Mirjam Bjorklund
H2H: First meeting.
Yuliana Lizarazo claimed a highly unlikely victory in the opening round, saving match points as her opponent served for the match to defeat the sixth seeded Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 4-6 7-6 6-2. Ranked #537 in the world, the Colombian’s win over the 2018 champion was the biggest of her career.
Mirjam Bjorklund secured her first WTA main draw victory with a 6-1 6-3 victory over Renata Zarazua. The Swede has been rapidly rising up the rankings thanks to strong results on clay at the ITF level. The 23-year-old now has a golden opportunity to reach a maiden quarterfinal at this level when she faces the local wild card. Bjorklund is a class above based on rankings, results and potential and should be good enough to get the job done if she maintains her composure.
Prediction: Bjorklund in 2
Ekaterine Gorgodze vs Laura Pigossi
H2H: First meeting.
Ekaterina Gorgodze made the most of a favorable opening round draw as she defeated local wild card Yuliana Monroy 6-0 6-3. Gorgodze will face a much tougher task in the second round where she faces Brazilian qualifier Laura Pigossi. The Brazilian secured a notable opening round scalp where she defeated Harmony Tan 6-4 6-3. Both players would see this as a winnable matchup, a rare opportunity to reach a quarterfinal at the WTA tour level. I’ll give the slight edge to Pigossi who has been toiling away on the clay in Colombia for a few weeks now and brings better form into this tournament than her opponent.
Prediction: Pigossi in 3
Rebecca Peterson vs Tatjana Maria
H2H: T. Maria 1-0.
Tatjana Maria has done well to reach this stage of the tournament as a qualifier. I don’t see the 34-year-old going any further. The third seeded Rebecca Peterson should be too strong in this matchup on a clay court. Peterson’s heavy forehand will cause the Maria one-handed backhand serious problems in these conditions. I doubt the German has what It takes to overcome such a tough task at this later stage of her career, with fatigue already setting in coming into her fourth match of the tournament.
Prediction: Peterson in 2
Lucrezia Stefanini vs Elina Avanesyan
H2H: First meeting.
Elina Avanesyan scored one of the biggest wins of her career in her Bogota opener as she defeated the 8th seeded Harriet Dart 6-1 6-2. Meanwhile Lucrezia Stefanini defeated Despina Papamichail 6-3 6-4. This is another open matchup with a rare quarterfinal birth at this level on offer. The 19-year-old Avanesyan is a player on the rise and comes into this match with slightly better form and less to lose, I’ll give her the slight edge in this evenly poised matchup.
Prediction: Avanesyan in 3
Dayana Yastremska vs Sara Errani
H2H: Yastremska 1-0
A classic matchup of extreme contrasting styles. The ultra-aggressive Yastremska against the grinding Errani. A clay court surface gives Errani her best chance in this matchup, but that wasn’t enough in their previous meeting as Yastremska defeated the Italian 7-6 6-4 in Hamburg last year.
Both players looked impressive in their Bogota openers. Yastremska defeated the 4th seeded Panna Udvardy 7-5 6-1, whilst Errani defeated Stefanie Voegele 6-0 6-3. This matchup is totally on Yastremska’s racquet, the result depends on how clinical she will be in the execution of her aggressive game. The Ukrainian has generally played well enough over the last couple of months to suggest she will be too powerful for Errani.
Prediction: Yastremska in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
