Day 5 of the 2023 WTA Madrid Open features eight interesting third round singles matches on Saturday. Aryna Sabalenka, Caroline Garcia, Coco Gauff and Maria Sakkari will all be in action at the year’s first clay court WTA 1000 tournament. We also look at the rest of the day’s matches in a separate article. Who do you think will advance to the last 16?
WTA Madrid Day 5 Predictions
Mirra Andreeva vs Magda Linette
Head-to-head: First meeting
Rising star Andreeva is on a 13-match winning streak at all levels coming into this match, which will be played on her 16th birthday. The World No. 194 won consecutive clay court ITF titles in Switzerland in the last two weeks. This week in Madrid, the Russian wildcard has claimed stunning straight-set wins over Leylah Fernandez and Beatriz Haddad Maia. World No. 19 Magda Linette made a superb run to the Australian Open semifinals in January, but has lost seven of her 13 matches since. The 31-year-old Pole battled past Marketa Vondrousova in three sets in the second round in Madrid after receiving a first round bye. Andreeva’s form and confidence give her a great chance of continuing her run–given Linette has struggled to find her best level recently.
Prediction: Andreeva in 3
Liudmila Samsonova vs Jelena Ostapenko
Head-to-head: Ostapenko 2-0 Samsonova
Samsonova has had a mixed 2023 campaign so far, with the highlight coming in February when she narrowly lost the Abu Dhabi final to Belinda Bencic. The World No. 18 downed Maryna Zanevska 6-2 6-3 in her first match at the WTA 1000 event. Ostapenko achieved her best result of the year by reaching the Australian Open quarterfinals and has gone 9-6 since. The World No. 22 crushed Linda Fruhvirtova 6-0 6-3 in the second round in Madrid. The 25-year-old Latvian won both previous meetings convincingly, though both came on hard courts and in 2020 and 2021. The 24-year-old Russian has since made great strides and her powerful first serve could give her the edge in these conditions.
Prediction: Samsonova in 3
Caroline Garcia vs Mayar Sherif
Head-to-head: Garcia 1-0 Sherif
World No. 5 Garcia has carried her impressive 2022 form into this season, reaching finals in Lyon and Monterrey. The 29-year-old fired 18 aces in her 6-3 6-4 triumph against Yulia Putintseva in her first match in Madrid. The Frenchwoman has a strong 13-6 record at the WTA 1000 event, where she made the last four in 2018. Sherif advanced against Camila Giorgi in the opening round in Madrid after the Italian was forced to retire at one set all. The 26-year-old Egyptian then earned an impressive 6-2 7-6(3) win over Anhelina Kalinina. While the World No. 59 has had success on clay, Garcia’s aggressive game should see her through at a tournament she enjoys.
Prediction: Garcia in 2
Coco Gauff vs Paula Badosa
Head-to-head: Badosa 2-1 Gauff
Gauff has had an excellent season so far, compiling an 18-6 record–including a title at her first event in Auckland. The World No. 6 defeated Spanish qualifier Irene Burillo Escorihela 6-4 6-1 in the second round in Madrid. After an underwhelming start to 2023, Badosa has improved on clay–reaching the quarterfinals in Charleston and Stuttgart. The World No. 42 prevailed 6-3 4-6 6-4 against Elisabetta Cocciaretto in a tough opening match this week. All three of the pair’s previous encounters came on hard courts, with Badosa winning the 2021 meeting before they split two matches last year. Gauff’s superior form this season could give her the edge at a tournament she made the quarterfinals at in 2022.
Prediction: Gauff in 3
Main Photo Credit: Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK
