Day 3 at the National Bank Open in Toronto provides another great day of matches on the WTA side. This WTA 1000 event has lived up to the billing thus far and should continue to with some of the matchups we have in store. As usual, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the schedule, including Ons Jabeur vs Qinwen Zheng, Iga Swiatek vs Ajla Tomljanovic and Belinda Bencic vs Serena Williams. But who will reach the third round?
WTA Toronto Day 3 Predictions
Elise Mertens vs Camila Giorgi
Head-to-Head: Mertens 2-1 Giorgi
Elise Mertens and Camila Giorgi have had very similar 2022 seasons. Mertens holds an 18-16 record and is currently ranked 37th in the world. Giorgi is 14-13 this season and is currently ranked 29th in the world. They both looked impressive in their straight-set round one wins. Not much separates these two in their current forms. The Italian did, however, beat Mertens 6-3 7-5 in the first round of this event last season. I think the slow, damp courts favor Mertens, but I have seen more confidence out of Giorgi over the past two months. I think she plays the big points well and takes down Mertens in three sets.
Prediction: Giorgi in 3
Jelena Ostapenko vs Alison Riske
Head-to-Head: Ostapenko 2-0 Riske
Jelena Ostapenko and Alison Riske will meet for the third time as the #16 seed looks to add another win over the American. Their two previous meetings both came at Slams, including earlier this year in Melbourne. This is Ostapenko’s first tournament since her run to the second week of Wimbledon. The Latvian is looking to make a late push towards the top-eight of the WTA Finals. Riske, who also had a strong grass season, is looking to build off of her impressive round one victory over Petra Kvitova. I see this match going the distance, but I do trust Ostapenko to hold a more consistent level throughout the match.
Prediction: Ostapenko in 3
Alize Cornet vs Bianca Andreescu
Head-to-Head: Cornet 2-0 Andreescu
Both Alize Cornet and Bianca Andreescu had impressive upset victories in Round 1 at the National Bank Open. As the 2015 champion of this tournament, Andreescu is looking to find her previous top-five level on home soil. Cornet provides a very interesting challenge for the Canadian. She has won eight of her last 11 matches and has beaten Andreescu in both of their previous meetings. The crowd will certainly be on Andreescu’s side, but will that be enough? I think it will, and see her advancing in a deciding third set.
Prediction: Andreescu in 3
Paula Badosa vs Yulia Putintseva
Head-to-Head: Badosa 2-0 Putintseva
#4 seed Paula Badosa is looking to continue her impressive hard-court season in Toronto. The Spaniard is 18-7 on the surface this season with a title in Sydney. Her opponent, Yulia Putintseva, has been a very streaky player this season. That does not typically bode well against a player of Badosa’s stature. I think the 24-year-old Spaniard will have no problem running Putintseva around the court in a two-set victory.
Prediction: Badosa in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
