This WTA Toronto day 3 predictions set features Iga Swiatek as the headline act. The world #1 has slowed down a little since racking up 37 wins in a row earlier this year. However, she is still far and away the best player on the WTA Tour so far this year. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the schedule, including Ons Jabeur vs Qinwen Zheng, Belinda Bencic vs Serena Williams and Paula Badosa vs Yulia Putintseva. But who will reach the last 16?
WTA Toronto Open Day 3 Predictions
Kaia Kanepi vs Garbine Muguruza
Head-to-head: 1 – 1
There are perhaps none in this tournament who need a good showing more than Garbine Muguruza does. The Spaniard hasn’t won back-to-back matches since Doha in February and looks a shell of the player who lifted the WTA Finals trophy last year. The level she played at is high enough to make her a serious contender in any tournament. As such, she remains a favourite in Toronto. However, she needs to start playing at that level again immediately here as she faces a tough opponent in Kaia Kanepi. The Estonian is enjoying something of a resurgence this year and will be a stern first test for Muguruza. I expect the Spaniard to come out firing with a point to prove, and her power should be too much for Kanepi in this one.
Prediction: Muguruza in 2
Jessica Pegula vs Asia Muhammad
Head-to-head: 1 – o Pegula
Pretty straightforward call here. This is one of those matches Pegula wins 99 times out of 100 barring a complete meltdown. She is the better player in all aspects, more experienced at this level and in the form of her life. No disrespect to Asia Muhammad, but at 31 her likelihood of improving to the level required to make it on the WTA Tour is slim. By contrast, Pegula is now a top ten player and one of the hardest players to beat on hard courts over the last 12-18 months. This should be an easy win for Pegula.
Prediction: Pegula in 2
Iga Swiatek vs Ajla Tomljanovic
Head-to-head: 1 – 0 Swiatek
Swiatek has lost twice in her last five matches, a stat that is only remarkable because she won the 37 matches that preceded those five. The Polish star is on more than double the points of the next player in the race to the WTA Finals (Ons Jabeur). In fact, she is the only player to have qualified and there are still three months of tennis left to play. Ajla Tomljanovic is a good player in the midst of the best spell of her career. The Aussie shouldn’t be taken lightly and could win this if Swiatek is off her game. However, being the best in the world earns you some privileges. One of those privileges is to walk into every match you play as the favourite to win it. Swiatek has too much power and is too mentally strong to stay ‘down’ for long. Expect her to make a statement in Canada this week.
Prediction: Swiatek in 2
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