It will be time to wrap up the third round of the WTA Indian Wells Open on day six. Two US Open champions are amongst those set to clash on what promises to be an entertaining. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the schedule, including Leylah Fernadez vs Caroline Garcia. But who will reach the last 16 in the Californian desert?
WTA Indian Wells Day 6 Predictions
Varvara Gracheva vs Daria Kasatkina
Head-to-head: Gracheva 1-1 Kasatkina
Varvara Gracheva lost just two games against Daria Kasatkina at the Australian Open. This is an outdoor hard court too, but the conditions in Indian Wells don’t have much in common with those at Melbourne Park. That doesn’t mean the lower-ranked of the Russians is the underdog, however, as she’s been on fire the past couple of weeks, including a runner-up appearance in Austin and four wins already here. This event is a huge chance for Kasatkina to rebuild her confidence, but Gracheva will not make it easy. Still, Kasatkina should have just about enough.
Prediction: Kasatkina in 3
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Martina Trevisan vs Karolina Muchova
Head-to-head: Muchova 1-0 Trevisan
Martina Trevisan scored a relatively rare hard-court win over Madison Brengle in the second round, but she’s likely to be outmatched here. Karolina Muchova recently beat her 6-2 6-2 in Doha and while the conditions here are better suited to the Italian than those in Qatar, she’s not the sort of player who can trouble players of Muchova’s quality on this surface. Muchova is back healthy now and that means she’ll be very dangerous for better players than Trevisan.
Prediction: Muchova in 2
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Leylah Fernandez vs Caroline Garcia
Head-to-head: Garcia 1-0 Fernandez
Caroline Garcia might have beaten Leylah Fernandez in straight sets at the Australian Open, but it was a tight match that, if a few vital points had gone her way, could have been won by the Canadian in straight sets.. The higher bounce in Indian Wells doesn’t necessarily suit either player. Garcia’s attempts to impose herself off the ground will be slightly less effective whilst Fernandez will have a harder time redirecting pace and playing off her opponent’s power. Expect another close battle. But Garcia is the higher-ranked player and has experience on her side.
Prediction: Garcia in 3
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Iga Swiatek vs Bianca Andreescu
Head-to-head: Swiatek 1-0 Andreescu
How much damage can Bianca Andreescu inflict on Iga Swiatek? The 2019 US Open champion is certainly among the select few who can beat the Pole when they’re playing their very best. That doesn’t look too likely though after the Canadian’s shaky start against Peyton Stearns. The courts in Indian Wells are also very favourable to the world #1, who will probably only struggle here if Andreescu brings her very best tennis to bear. Otherwise, it promises to be a comfortable day for the Pole.
Prediction: Swiatek in 2
Main photo credit: Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK
