The WTA 500 Charleston Open kicks off the clay season as many of the world’s best travel to South Carolina to compete for a good amount of points. Half of the seeded players are taking the court on Day 3 including #1 seed Aryna Sabalenka. As always, we at LWOT will provide previews and predictions of Sabalenka vs Alison Riske as well as the other WTA matches on Day 3, split between two other articles. One features Belinda Bencic vs Linda Fruhvirtova, and the other features Leylah Fernandez vs Magda Linette.
WTA Charleston Day 4 Predictions
Alize Cornet vs Hailey Baptiste
20-year-old American Hailey Baptiste notched her career best win in Round 1 over Elena Gabriela Ruse and is looking to use that momentum as she takes on world #34 Alize Cornet. Cornet is just 2-6 since the 2022 Australian Open and is looking to regain her form during clay season. Baptiste certainly has a bright future on the WTA tour, but I see her struggling with the veteran Cornet.
Prediction: Cornet in 3
Zhang Shuai vs Claire Liu
Head-to-Head: First meeting
33-year-old Zhang Shuai won the title in Lyon just over a month ago and has won 8 out of her last 10 matches. She takes on 22-year-old Claire Liu who is 4-4 in her last 8 matches. Shuai is the veteran and more in-form player, but I do like Liu’s game on the clay. She had a nice 6-4 6-2 Round 1 win over Heather Watson. I think Liu pushes this one to a third-set and picks up one of the biggest wins of her young career in Round 2 of the Charleston Open.
Prediction: Liu in 3
Ons Jabeur vs Emma Navarro
Head-to-Head: First meeting
Current world #10 Ons Jabeur takes on wild card Emma Navarro in Round 2 of the Charleston Open. Jabuer holds just an 8-6 record on the season but has a career Tour-level winning percentage of 66.4% on the clay. Navarro has played in just seven total matches this season and won her first match in over two months with her Round 1 win over Madison Brengle. Jabeur is certainly the more seasoned, in-form, and quality player. She should roll in this one.
Prediction: Jabeur in 2
Aryna Sabalenka vs Alison Riske
Head-to-Head: Sabalenka leads 4-0
World #5 Aryna Sabalenka will take on World #43 Alison Riske in what is arguably the best match of the day in Charleston. The two have met four previous times, with Sabalenka winning every meeting. Though, the Bulgarian has had an uninspiring start to the 2022 season having lost five of eight matches since the Australian Open. Alison Riske notched a nice 7-5 6-3 Round 1 win over Caty McNally. With that said, the the vetean Riske has won just 32.1% of her career clay court matches. Sabalenka should find a way to win this one.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
