The 500-level WTA Ostrava Open has gotten off to an exciting start with some of the best players in the world gathered in Ostrava, Czechia to compete for this title. Day four on these indoor hard courts will wrap up the round of 16 with five quarterfinalist spots still on the line. We here at LWOT are offering our predictions for every match happenings around the grounds in Ostrava, but who will advance?
WTA Ostrava Day 4 Predictions
Alycia Parks vs Maria Sakkari
Head-to-head: first meeting
21-year-old American Alycia Parks is looking to reach her first tour-level quarterfinals as she squares off against world #7 Maria Sakkari. Parks, who advanced through two rounds of qualifying without dropping a set, bested former world #1 Karolina Pliskova 6-0 7-6(3) in the first round. It was far and away the best win of her career. Although Sakkari finished with a 2-4 record during the summer hard-court series, she should have too much for the young American to handle. The consistent power she possesses will likely force Parks into too many unforced errors.
Prediction: Sakkari in 2
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Karolina Muchova vs Caty McNally
Head-to-head: Muchova 1-0 McNally
Both currently ranked outside of the top 130, this round of 16 bout between Karolina Muchova and Caty McNally provide the winner with a welcome boost in the rankings. Muchova had the more impressive first-round win, getting the better seventh seed Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-4 6-4. After reaching the quarterfinals in Tallinn last week, she is looking to reach back-to-back quarters for the first time since February 2021. McNally, who came through the qualifying, has yet to be tested in any of the six sets she has won this week with the 20-year-old’s power, particularly from the line, keeping her opponents on the back foot. Expect a tight match between these two but Muchova, who that much more experienced, is surely the favourite.
Prediction: Muchova in 3
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Daria Kasatkina vs Ekaterina Alexandrova
Head-to-head: Kasatkina 2-1 Alexandrova
Daria Kasatkina and Ekaterina Alexandrova enter this second-round matchup in Ostrava after having both scored solid first-round victories. Kasatkina bested Emma Raducanu 7-5 6-4 and Alexandrova took down Victoria Azarenka 6-4 4-6 6-2. This will be the fourth meeting between these two Russian counterparts. Kasatkina leads the head-to-head 2-1 including a three-set victory earlier this year in Berlin. Alexandrova is coming off of a title in Seoul, Kasatkina won a title in Granby in late August. Something must give. Expect the older (and lower-ranked) Alexandrova to get over the finish line in this one. Her consistency from the baseline is what has led her to her current career-high ranking of world #21.
Prediction: Alexandrova in 3
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Anett Kontaveit vs Tereza Martincova
Head-to-head: Kontaveit 3-0 Martincova
Current world #4 Anett Kontaveit looks to extend her head-to-head success over Tereza Martincova in their round two meeting in Ostrava. Kontaveit has beaten Martincova twice already this year, including a 6-2 6-1 drubbing last week in Tallinn. That result Martincova, just one week ago, will surely still be at the forefront of Martincova’s mind and it’s hard to see the belief level in her game being there to compete with the third seed in this round of 16 as a result. Kontaveit will once again be all over Martincova’s serve and should be able to take this one with a few breaks.
Prediction: Kontaveit in 2
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Belinda Bencic vs Barbora Krejcikova
Head-to-head: Bencic 2-1 Krejcikova
Good to see you again! Belinda Bencic and Barbora Krejcikova are set two square off for the second time in two weeks. Krejcikova came back from a set down to beat Bencic 6-7 7-6 6-2 en route to her title in Tallinn. Bencic ran out of gas in the decider after two hours and 33 minutes of fantastic tennis in the first two sets. Krejcikova took out the top three seeds on her way to the title in Tallinn and seemingly this momentum to oust Shelby Rogers 6-2 6-2 to begin her week in Ostrava. Although this match should be competitive, expect the Czech native once again being able to get by Bencic thanks to the consistency of her all-around game.
Prediction: Krejcikova in 2
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