It’s a busy Day 3 at the 2022 WTA Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome with fifteen second-round matches on the schedule. Aryna Sabalenka starts her campaign against Shuai Zhang, while Leylah Fernandez takes on Daria Kasatkina. Who do you think will prevail?
WTA Rome Day 3 Predictions
Victoria Azarenka vs Camila Osorio
Head-to-head: First meeting
Camila Osorio is an expert clay-court player, excelling in movement and point construction. The question remains can she put much pressure on Viktoria Azarenka. The Belarusian has a great return game and will be giving Osorio a very tough time in her service games. The attacking firepower that she has should help her massively in this matchup, making her a slight favorite of this clash.
Prediction: Azarenka in 3
Aryna Sabalenka vs Shuai Zhang
Head-to-head: Sabalenka 2-1
There are some uncertainties regarding Aryna Sabalenka’s performance, coming from the fact that she lost her opening match in Madrid to Ekaterina Alexandrova. Shuai Zhang already has a match in Rome under her belt, defeating Martina Trevisan. The Chinese has never been a great clay-courter though, owning about a 50% win/loss record on the dirt throughout her career. She might trouble Sabalenka if the Belarusian is rusty, but should come up short even if she pushes her to a decider.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 3
Cori Gauff vs Madison Brengle
Head-to-head: First meeting
Madison Brengle made the most out of her lucky loser spot by beating Marta Kostyuk on Tuesday. However, this is likely where her run ends. Cori Gauff is much less up-and-down than her previous opponent and really enjoys the slow conditions, which she showed in a straightforward defeat of Angelique Kerber. The American’s forehand is not as much of an attackable target here as it can be on faster courts.
Prediction: Gauff in 2
Leylah Fernandez vs Daria Kasatkina
Head-to-head: First meeting
Leylah Fernandez looked very shaky in the first set of her match against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, before steadying the course to make her way back from a set down. Daria Kasatkina has some issues balancing her game between being passive and attacking, but she’s got the potential to overpower her opponent. She’s also playing with a lot of confidence right now, having defeated Maria Sakkari in a very solid run at Madrid.
Prediction: Kasatkina in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
