There should be plenty of entertaining action on day three at the WTA Charleston Open with 13 intriguing second-round matches on the slate in South Carolina. As ever, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the schedule, including Aryna Sabalenka vs Alison Riske and Leylah Fernandez vs Magda Linette. But who will advance?
WTA Charleston Day 3 Predictions
Anhelina Kalinina vs Elena Rybakina
Head-to-head: first meeting
Elena Rybakina has not performed at the level she would have liked so far in 2022. The Kazakh had to withdraw in the second round at the Australian Open, with her best showing so far this season a quarterfinal appearance in Indian Wells. Anhelina Kalinina, meanwhile, got the better of Aliaksandra Sasnovich in the first round, and reached the fourth round at the WTA Miami Open. She also took a set off Iga Swiatek in the second round in Indian Wells. Rybakina would almost certainly win this match if she were playing her best tennis. But she isn’t at the moment.
Prediction: Kalinina in 3
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Anna Bondar vs Paula Badosa
Head-to-head: first meeting
Paula Badosa enjoyed a broadly productive Sunshine Double, reaching the semifinals in Indian Wells and the last eight in Miami. But she did not manage to record a statement win and her withdrawal after five games in the quarterfinals at the WTA Miami Open raises some concerns about her fitness heading into this match. Anna Bondar, meanwhile, lost in the first round in Indian Wells and the second round in Miami, to Petra Martic and Danielle Collins. Both Martic and Collins are tough opponents, but then so too is Badosa. Expect the Spaniard to prove too strong here.
Prediction: Badosa in 2
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Kaia Kanepi vs Magdalena Frech
Head-to-head: first meeting
Kaia Kanepi has not been one of the WTA Tour’s most active most players, but when she has played, the Estonian has generally played well. She reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, beating second seed Aryna Sabalenka in the fourth round, and reached the third round in both Indian Wells and Miami. Magdalena Frech also enjoyed some success during the Sunshine Double, coming through the qualifying at both events and reaching the second round in Indian Wells. But this is a tough assignment for the Pole. Kanepi may no longer be a consistent presence on the WTA Tour, but she thrives on slower surfaces and has the power to hit through better movers than Frech.
Prediction: Kanepi in 2
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Belinda Bencic vs Linda Fruhvirtova
Head-to-head: first meeting
After an excellent showing in Miami where she reached the fourth round, Linda Fruhvirtova is doubtless desperate to back up that effort in Charleston. She made a fine start with a battling 4-6 6-1 6-3 win over Ana Konjuh, but is facing a stern test up against Olympic gold medallist Belinda Bencic. The Swiss had been in the midst of a poor start to the season before reaching the semifinals in Miami. She has surely drawn real confidence from that run in Florida and Bencic looked assured, if not entirely at her best, in her 4-6 7-6 6-3 win over Wang Xiyu. If she can maintain her focus , expect her to have too much for the teenaged Fruhvirtova.
Prediction: Bencic in 3
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