Angelina Gabueva and Ekaterina Makarova will make their WTA Tour debuts in Strasbourg on Tuesday. Can they stand a chance against such experienced competitors as Fiona Ferro and Sorana Cirstea? In what appears to be a much more interesting matchup, Bernarda Pera takes on Elena-Gabriela Ruse. We also predict the rest of the day’s matches in a separate article. Who do you think will advance to the next round?
WTA Strasbourg Day 3 Predictions
Ekaterina Makarova vs Sorana Cirstea
Head-to-head: First meeting
Ekaterina Makarova had a very unique campaign to get here, beating both the Morderger twins (Yana and Tayisiya). Because of Roland Garros qualifying, most players that would usually miss out on the main draw here went to Paris, leaving the chance for a player like the Russian to make her WTA Tour debut. How big will the shock be given that she’s facing a very tough opponent at the first hurdle? Probably enough for her not to stand much of a chance here. Sorana Cirstea was the runner-up in Strasbourg last year and is still playing at a level that Makarova has never even faced yet.
Prediction: Cirstea in 2
Angelina Gabueva vs Fiona Ferro
Head-to-head: First meeting
Angelina Gabueva is a lucky loser, going down to Lina Glushko in the final qualifying round. The 33-year-old has tried to make it to a WTA Tour main draw numerous times over the past sixteen years and will finally make her tour-level debut. The veteran has never broken the top 400 though and will likely be outmatched against Fiona Ferro. The Frenchwoman is out of the top 100 now after a poor 2021 campaign, but should still be completely out of Gabueva’s range.
Prediction: Ferro in 2
Bernarda Pera vs Elena-Gabriela Ruse
Head-to-head: Ruse 1-0
After two matches that look like very straightforward affairs, this one should actually be extremely tight. Bernarda Pera is coming back from an injury, but looked great in a pair of WTA 125K events at Saint-Malo and Karlsruhe, losing only to Mayar Sherif in the final of the latter. The lefty American is an excellent clay-court player, owing that mostly to how unpleasant her topspin can be. She should be in a better match rhythm than Elena-Gabriela Ruse, who had a very topsy-turvy campaign in Rome.
Prediction: Pera in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
