Day 3 at the first WTA 1000 of the season in Indian Wells will feature the beginning of Round 2 of the tournament, with the seeded players finally starting their campaign. It will feature plenty of top level players as well as lower ranked who will be fancying their chances of causing an upset and going on a run here.
WTA Indian Wells Day 3 Predictions
Linda Fruhvirtova vs Anhelina Kalinina
Head-to-head: first meeting
Although Kalinina is the clearly higher ranked player, this should be a very tight and interesting match. Kalinina hasn’t really been playing well in 2023 and Fruhvirtova has been performing at a very solid level and even had a very good run Australia. She also looked good in her first match this year at Indian Wells and should be a slight favorite coming into this one.
Prediction: Fruhvirtova in 3
Jil Teichmann vs Belinda Bencic
Head-to-head: Bencic 2-1 Teichmann
Teichmann might be having a good season, after an equally good 2022, but Bencic is one of the very best players in the world, with legitimate aspirations of winning big trophies (including Slams) and rising further up the rankings. It’s a rare all-Swiss affair at the WTA, somewhat reminiescent of the Federer vs Wawrinka battles on the men’s side, but it should on paper be one way traffic.
Prediction: Bencic in 2
Evgeniya Rodina vs Aryna Sabalenka
Head-to-head: Sabalenka 2-0 Rodina
The world #2 couldn’t really back up her Australian Open-winning level in Dubai, but she remains of the best and most consistent players on the WTA tour. Sabalenka will have very legitimate ambitions of winning this tournament and she’s unlikely to be bothered by Rodina at such an early stage of the tournament.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 2
Petra Kvitova vs Elizabeth Mandlik
Head-to-head: first meeting
Kvitova is a very streaky, hot and cold player who can beat anyone on her day but also lose to just about anyone at any point. Still, this first round agaisnt Mandlik shouldn’t cause her any significant problems, even with the match being played in court conditions (slow and heavy, high bouncing) that don’t really favor Kvitova’s style.
Prediction: Kvitova in 2
Main Photo Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports
