Day 4 means time for the remaining second-round matches at the 2023 WTA Libema Open in Den Bosch, Netherlands. Defending champion Ekaterina Alexandrova faces Kimberly Birrell, while 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu will take on Viktoria Hruncakova. Who do you think will make the quarterfinals?
WTA Den Bosch Day 4 Predictions
Sachia Vickery vs Emina Bektas
Head-to-head: First meeting
Sachia Vickery lost in the final qualifying round here, but took Elise Mertens’s spot in the draw when the Belgian was forced to pull out. She capitalized on that opportunity in style and only dropped three games to Priscilla Hon. Emina Bektas is enjoying a breakthrough campaign at the age of 30 this year and after winning a grass ITF event in Kurume, she’s also continuing that form in Den Bosch. It’s a tight call, but Bektas has so much confidence at the moment that maybe she pulls off another one?
Prediction: Bektas in 3
Celine Naef vs Caty McNally
Head-to-head: First meeting
Celine Naef eliminated Venus Williams, despite clearly feeling the pressure of playing a seven-time Grand Slam champ, which showed especially in that streak of errors she made to drop the opening set. Once she actually dialed in her groundstrokes, she managed to fight back and actually show some of the talent that is making her one of the more accomplished 17-year-olds in the world right now. Caty McNally loves the grass though and will go at her with all that she has. Her all-court style is very tough to handle on this surface.
Prediction: McNally in 2
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Ekaterina Alexandrova vs Kimberly Birrell
Head-to-head: First meeting
Ekaterina Alexandrova won this tournament last year and it looks like she won’t go down without a fight. While generally inconsistent, the Russian’s flat hitting is just a nightmare to play against on the grass. Despite coming from a country with lots of heritage on this surface, Kimberly Birrell just never really mastered it and her game simply doesn’t suit it like Alexandrova’s does. Feels like a pretty good draw for the defending champion.
Prediction: Alexandrova in 2
Bianca Andreescu vs Viktoria Hruncakova
Head-to-head: Andreescu 1-0
These two have actually met on grass before, but that meeting came back in 2017. Bianca Andreescu had just turned 17 when she defeated Viktoria Hruncakova in the final qualifying round at Wimbledon. Years later the Canadian is still yet to sort out her constant injury issues, but she was fine on the lawn in 2022 with a final in Bad Homburg and an unlucky meeting with Elena Rybakina as early as the second round in London. If she stays fit, she should come out victorious over Hruncakova again.
Prediction: Andreescu in 2
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
