One of two WTA warmup events for the French Open enters its third day on Tuesday. The draw is not a very strong one, as the best players on the tour usually spend this week resting up for the big event. However, World #10 Garbine Muguruza is here looking for match fitness after injuries have given her a shaky start to the year. Several seeds are in action on Tuesday, but the opportunities for upsets are rife. With that in mind, let’s dive into the four matches in this set of WTA Rabat day 3 predictions and see who should come out on top. Remember, if you disagree or think I’ve missed something out in my analysis that could swing the match then feel free to comment and we can discuss it!
WTA Rabat Day 3 Predictions
Petra Marcinko vs Astra Sharma
Head-to-head:
Petra Marcinko will be eyeing this tournament as a real opportunity to make strides up the WTA ranking ladder. The 16 year old Croat has already amassed an impressive 26 – 3 record in 2022. She won the Junior Australian Open in January and has also lifted two ITF titles this year. She looks to be a star for the future and that future may well be closer than expected with a week draw in Rabat. Facing her here is Astra Sharma. The Aussie shocked the world when she beat Ons Jabeur to win WTA Charleston last year. Since that win though, she has wasted little time in drifting back to the edge of the top 100 in the women’s game. She seems unable to play with the consistency needed to make continued headway on the tour. She likely won’t have enough here either as Marcinko is young, hungry for wins and is playing fearless tennis that was enough to get past Rebecca Peterson in the last round. The Swede is out of form, but a better player than Sharma. Marcinko should advance here.
Prediction: Marcinko in 2
Clara Burel vs Panna Udvardy
Head-to-head: First meeting
This match might be quite difficult to watch. Neither player brings much form into WTA Rabat. In fact, they have won just eight matches between them in 2022 if you discount the Billie Jean King Cup. Both are inside the top 100 by virtue of solid play in big ITF tournaments or low ranking WTA tournaments. Outside of Panna Udvardy being a better player on the red dirt, there isn’t much at all to separate these two. Clara Burel probably has the higher ceiling, but the lack of form makes me thing Udvardy’s clay court prowess will be enough to see her through here regardless. This one likely goes the distance though and is anything but clear-cut.
Prediction: Udvardy in 3
Anna Bondar vs Cristiana Ferrando
Head-to-head: 1 – 0 Bondar
Anna Bondar is the #4 seed here and will like her chances of a deep run and some easy points this week. She is one of just two players in this set of WTA Rabat day 3 predictions to be ranked inside the top 70 in the women’s game. By contrast, Cristiana Ferrando is outside the top 200 in the world and had to qualify for the main draw here. Other than this tournament, she hasn’t featured on the WTA Tour in 2022. Bondar has been solid if unspectacular this year. She has proved she can mix it with mid-level players on the tour, especially on clay, and is a clear favourite to advance here. In tournaments like this players often play care-free, and that can make things dangerous for seeds expected to win comfortably. However, I can’t see an upset here with a gulf in quality and form as big as this. Anna Bondar should move on here.
Prediction: Anna Bondar in 2
Mayar Sherif vs Chloe Paquet
Head-to-head: 1 – 0 Sherif
Mayar Sherif is arguably the favourite to win this tournament after Muguruza. The Egyptian trailblazer is fresh of a Challenger win in Germany that saw her face some quality opposition. She didn’t drop a set all tournament and comes to Rabat red hot as a result. Facing her is a tough opponent in Paquet. The French woman looked to be making a real push to cement her place on the tour during the COVID-19 pandemic affected months of 2020 and 2021. However, she still sits just outside the top 100 despite four ITF titles last year. The main reason is that she simply doesn’t play at the level needed to be on the main tour on a consistent basis. She is one of several women who have sat in and around the top 100 for years without ever making strides up the rankings. A deep run here could be her chance to change that. Unfortunately that looks unlikely, given she faces a top player in Sherif. The French star may make this close, but I can’t see her doing much more than that.
Prediction: Mayar Sherif in 2
Main Photo:
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