Day 3 WTA action in Eastbourne means that the 16 seeded players will be playing their first matches of the week. Players are hoping to take this final opportunity to hone in their grass-court game ahead of Wimbledon. Top-seeded Paula Badosa takes the court against Jodie Burrage, but who will come out on top?
WTA Eastbourne Day 3 Predictions
Petra Kvitova vs Donna Vekic
Head-to-Head: Kvitova 2-1 Vekic
#14 seed Petra Kvitova and wild card Donna Vekic are meeting for the first time on the grass during Round 2 of the Eastbourne Invitational. Including qualifying matches, Vekic is 7-2 on the grass this season. Petra Kvitova is just 0-1 on the grass this season but does have a career winning percentage of 71.1% on the surface. I like the form of Vekic and do think she could put someone on upset alert at Wimbledon, however, I believe Kvitova is motivated to get in a few more grass matches this week and will play as such.
Prediction: Kvitova in 3
Madison Keys vs Lauren Davis
Head-to-Head: Keys 4-2 Davis
Americans Madison Keys and Lauren Davis are meeting for the 7th time in their careers, and the third time on grass. Although Keys holds the head-to-head advantage, both of Lauren Davis’ wins over her compatriot came on the grass in convincing fashion. This will be Madison Keys’ first match since Roland Garros, so form is certainly a question. Keys has been the better career player on grass, so their previous results are a bit mysterious. I think this one goes three sets, with the consistency of Madison Keys being the difference.
Prediction: Keys in 3
Beatriz Haddad Maia vs Kaia Kanepi
Head-to-Head: Kanepi 1-0 Haddad Maia
Beatriz Haddad Maia is arguably the second-most in-form player on the tour behind Iga Swiatek. Haddad Maia has won 21 of her last 23 matches including back-to-back titles in Nottingham and Birmingham. She came into the month of June having won two career tour-level matches on the grass. The Brazilian currently holds a 10-match win streak on the surface. However, her opponent, Kaia Kanepi, is one of the two players to beat Haddad Maia over the past two months. She topped the Brazilian 6-4 6-4 in Round 2 at Roland Garros. Fatigue may play a factor for Beatriz Haddad Maia. Because of that, I am picking Kaia Kanepi to advance in a tight three-setter.
Prediction: Kanepi in 3
Paula Badosa vs Jodie Burrage
Head-to-Head: first meeting
#1 seed Paula Badosa is playing in her first and only grass tournament before Wimbledon at the Eastbourne Invitational. She opens up against Wildcard Jodie Burrage. The 23-year-old Burrage is 8-2 on the grass this season, although six of those wins came at the ITF level. Paula Badosa has just a 5-7 career record on grass courts, but I expect her to come out ready to gain some much-needed form this week ahead of Wimbledon. I will take Badosa in a tight two sets.
Prediction: Badosa in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
