Day 4 at the WTA BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells features plenty of intriguing matchups. Two-time champion Victoria Azarenka squares off against versatile Czech Karolina Muchova in the most anticipated match of the day in the women’s section. Who do you think will come out on top?
WTA Indian Wells Day 4 Predictions
Leylah Fernandez vs Emma Navarro
Head-to-head: Fernandez 1-0 Navarro
Leylah Fernandez made a quarterfinal in her first tournament of 2023, but her good form has gone off the boil in recent weeks. This match, however, presents a massive opportunity to get back to winning ways. She will be acutely aware of Emma Navarro’s potential and particularly her hyper-aggressive return which caused havoc to Caty McNally’s malfunctioning serve. Provided the Canadian plays anything close to her best tennis, expect her to sail into the third round.
Prediction: Fernandez in 2
Beatriz Haddad Maia vs Katerina Siniakova
Head-to-head: Siniakova 1-0 Haddad Maia
Beatriz Haddad Maia is 9-5 for the season reaching the quarterfinal or better in three WTA tournaments this season. But she probably won’t find Katerina Siniakova quite as straightforward in her Indian Wells opener. The Czech, surprisingly, has been in solid, if not spectacular form of late in singles competition. While Siniakova might not match the Brazilian for pace, her quirky style will keep things watertight. Ultimately, you would expect the hard-hitting Haddad Maia to have enough in her arsenal to outgun the doubles #1.
Prediction Haddad Maia in 3
Sorana Cirstea vs Madison Keys
Head-to-head: Cirstea 1-0 Keys
Sorana Cirstea scored a decent win over an in-form Kimberly Birrell on Thursday. That should build belief back into her game after a run of one win in six matches. Madison Keys, meanwhile, received a first-round bye, but is unlikely to have any rust-related issues. The American is a powerful ball striker even though she is occasionally prone to error-strewn performances. But with Cirstea well past her peak, Keys should steamroll past the Romanian.
Prediction: Keys in 2
Victoria Azarenka vs Karolina Muchova
Head-to-head: Azarenka 1-0 Muchova
Even at 33, Victoria Azarenka remains quick, committed, and ruthless in her pursuit of success. Azarenka’s dedication to the sport is admirable. She is one of the contenders to win the BNP Paribas Open for the third time. Muchova enters this match looking to spring a surprise after coming out on top of a seesaw opener against Yulia Putintseva. The Czech is a versatile player with top-notch court positioning. Her variation often digs her out of tight situations. She defends superbly off both flanks too. But Azarenka possesses similar traits and executes her game plan slightly better than the Czech. Expect the world #14 to prowl tirelessly in search of her 11th win of the season.
Prediction: Azarenka in 3
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
