It promises to be an entertaining fourth day at the WTA Austin Open with the remaining second-round matches set to be completed in Texas. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for all four matches on the schedule in Austin, but who will secure their spot in Friday’s quarterfinals?
WTA Austin Day 4 Predictions
Anna-Lena Friedsam vs Erika Andreeva
Head-to-head: Andreeva 1-0 Friedsam
Lucky loser Erika Andreeva has taken full advantage of her good fortune so far at the WTA Austen Open. The Russian started her week in the qualifying, beating You Xiaodi in a third-set tiebreak to reach the second round of qualifying, but she was beaten there by Ashlyn Krueger. A late withdrawal saw her handed a reprieve and she won her second third-set tiebreak of the week to advance at Heather Watson’s expense. She may feel confident about her chances against Anna-Lena Friedsam too, having won their only previous meeting. But the German has the higher ceiling and looked sharp in beating Dayana Yastremska in her opener. Expect Friedsam to have the edge.
Prediction: Friedsam in 3
Embed from Getty Images
Marta Kostyuk vs Madison Brengle
Head-to-head: Kostyuk 1-1 Brengle
This is a match that Marta Kostyuk should be winning. The Ukrainian clearly has a bright future and has been in solid-enough form of late, but Madison Brengle will not make it easier for her. There are more talented players on the WTA Tour than the American, but few that can match her determination. She will also have the WTA Austin Open crowd right behind her on home soil. Will that be enough for the Delaware-native? It is not out of the question, but she will have to work very hard to overcome the undeniable gap in talent between the pair. Kostyuk should have enough to reach the last eight.
Prediction: Kostyuk in 2
Embed from Getty Images
Anna Kalinskaya vs Coco Vandeweghe
Head-to-head: first meeting
Coco Candeweghe was extremely unfortunate to suffer a serious ankle injury when she was at the peak of her powers. Her career has never really recovered, but the two-time Grand Slam semifinalist remains a force to be reckoned with when she is on song. But so far this week, she has been playing indifferent tennis. She made a fine start in the qualifying against Lena Papadikis, but then lost to Louise Chirico before only narrowly scraping past Robin Montgomery after being given a reprieve as a lucky loser. Vandeweghe can play well enough to beat Anna Kalinskaya, particularly as the Russian has hardly been in sparkling form. But at this stage in their respective careers, Kalinskaya looks the likelier winner.
Prediction: Kalinskaya in 3
Catherine McNally vs Danielle Collins
Head-to-head: first meeting
Catherine McNally has not yet fulfilled the promise she showed as a junior in the professional rankings, but the signs have been increasingly promising and she impressed in her first-round win over the qualifier Krueger, dropping just seven games in a composed performance. Former-world #7 Danielle Collins promises to pose a sterner test, however. The fourth seed negotiated a tough first-round draw adroitly, rallying from a set down to beat Magdalena Frech and will doubtless be targeting a deep run at the WTA Austin Open. She will probably need to raise her level to beat McNally, but she is still unquestionably the favourite heading into this match.
Prediction: Collins in 3
Main photo credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
