Second-round at the WTA Charleston Open will be in full swing on Wednesday. The big hitters will hit the dirt for the first time, including Australian Open semifinalist Magda Linette and defending champion Belinda Bencic. Who will reach the quarterfinals?
WTA Charleston Day 3 Predictions
Madison Keys vs Hailey Baptiste
Head-to-head: Baptiste 1-0 Keys
The fact that Hailey Baptiste owns a winning record against Madison Keys will not sit too well with the world #22. Keys lost to her compatriot in Washington in 2019 and that only fuelled her quest to win the WTA 1000 in Cincinnati a few weeks later. But she’ll want to put things right here and even with the gulf in ranking, it won’t be easy. Baptiste has produced a strong qualifying campaign in Charleston and upset one of China’s newest stars Xiyu Wang. Keys will need to polish up her baseline ground strokes to ensure lightning does not strike twice.
Prediction: Keys in 3
Belinda Bencic vs Katherine Sebov
Head-to-head: first meeting
Belinda Bencic was an absolute disappointment during the North American hard-court swing. But you can be certain the Swiss is hurting and will look to wear the Charleson glass slipper at the weekend. Last year she shockingly won this tournament, beating Ons Jabeur in the final. Katherine Sebov is winning a handful of admirers with her tennis every week and she earned another massive win here by taking out Lauren Davis. Bencic, however, is a class above the Canadian qualifier.
Prediction: Bencic in 2
Veronika Kudermetova vs Diana Shnaider
Head-to-head: first meeting
Diana Shnaider’s stock is rising rapidly. She announced herself at this year’s Australian Open with that sizzling performance against Maria Sakkari. But it is on clay where Shnaider is even more fluid and dangerous. She has bagged five titles on the dirt including the Montevideo 125K last season. That lefty forehand is pure malice and it tormeneted Alycia Parks in the first round. Kudermetova has gone off the boil a bit in recent weeks. And if she takes a while to get going here, she might be in for a shock.
Prediction: Shnaider in 3
Magda Linette vs Varvara Gracheva
Head-to-head: Linette 1-1 Gracheva
Varvara Gracheva is in the form of her life. She is playing so well that even a change of surface has done little to disrupt her momentum and rhythm. The Russian has entered the world’s top 50 for the first time and could make a late push for a seeding spot at Roland Garros in the coming weeks.
Magda Linette started the North American hard-court swing on a low tone but worked her way into the thick of the action in her last tournament in Miami. Still, I think this matchup has a repeat result of their Austin clash at the end of February. Gracheva is so clean off the ground right now and that could throw Linette off her game. And with Pole making the surface switch for the first time, she looks more of an underdog here.
Prediction: Gracheva in 3
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
