The second set of round of 16 matches on the WTA side in Madrid will commence here on day six. The top half of the draw has seen some of the top seeds falter, but level shown by the players still in the draw has been very high. As always, we here at LWOT have predictions for every match on day six, but who will reach the last eight?
WTA Madrid Day 6 Predictions
Emma Raducanu vs Anhelina Kalinina
Head-to-head: first meeting
Ninth seed Emma Raducanu and Anhelina Kalinina will meet for the first time as both look to reach the quarterfinals for their maiden quarterfinal appearance at a clay court Masters 1000 event. Both women won their first two matches in straight sets to set up this round of 16 clash. Emma Raducanu has played just eight tour-level matches on the clay but has taken a liking to the surface. Anhelina Kalinina is playing some of the best tennis of her career, holding an 8-3 record over the last six weeks. Something must budge. Kalinina, who is in fine form and should have the mental advantage over the young Raducanu, should be the player to advance.
Prediction: Kalinina in 3
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Jil Teichmann vs Elena Rybakina
Head-to-head: first meeting
16th seed Elena Rybakina takes on Jil Teichmann for the first time in a matchup of top-35 players here in the round of 16. Rybakina cruised in her first two matches, dropping just seven games along the way. She has a career 65.9% winning percentage on the clay. Jil Teichmann also won her two matches in Madrid in straight sets, but has struggled to find her footing this season. Expect Rybakina to advance here. She is a better clay court player and is in better form than her counterpart.
Prediction: Rybakina in 2
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Daria Kasatkina vs Sara Sorribes Tormo
Head-to-head: Kasatkina 1-1 Sorribes Tormo
Daria Kasatkina and Sara Sorribes Tormo are matching up in the Madrid Round of 16 having picked up some fantastic wins in the first two rounds of this tournament. Kasatkina came back from a set down to take out the fourth seed Maria Sakkari 3-6 6-3 6-1 in second round. Sara Sorribes Tormo, meanwhile, has defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Naomi Osaka to reach the third round. The Spaniard is 6-1 on the clay this season. This matchup should be one of the best of the day, but expect Sorribes Tormo, who has put together the more consistent 2022 season, to have the edge.
Prediction: Sorribes Tormo in 3
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Jessica Pegula vs Bianca Andreescu
Head-to-head: Andreescu 1-0 Pegula
12th seed Jessica Pegula is looking to reach her first quarterfinal on clay this season when she goes up against 21-year-old Bianca Andreescu. Andreescu won their only meeting 0-6 6-4 6-2 in the Newport Beach Challenger back in 2019. Both players have massively improved their standing on the WTA Tour since that matchup. Andreescu, who returned to the tour in mid-April after over six months off, picked up a massive Round 2 win 6-1 6-1 over Danielle Collins. The former-world #4 is looking to topple two of the top Americans in back to back matches. But Pegula has the advantage in fitness and that might well prove to be decisive.
Prediction: Pegula in 3
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