The 2023 WTA German Open in Berlin seems to be back on schedule with the remaining second-round matches due to be played out on Thursday. Top seed Aryna Sabalenka is facing an extremely tricky challenge in Veronika Kudermetova, who eliminated her in Berlin last year. Who do you think will prevail this time?
WTA Berlin Day 4 Predictions
Marketa Vondrousova vs Jule Niemeier
Head-to-head: First meeting
Grass and Marketa Vondrousova usually don’t get along, but the Czech was able to forget about that and take out Bianca Andreescu in round one. It’s not necessarily getting easier though with Jule Niemeier as her next opponent. The German made the quarterfinals at Wimbledon last year and despite her form being so patchy since, she should always be a decent threat on the grass with her big game. The three wins she’s managed to grab in Berlin (especially over Ons Jabeur) are proof of that.
Prediction: Niemeier in 3
Maria Sakkari vs Aliaksandra Sasnovich
Head-to-head: First meeting
Maria Sakkari had a pretty disastrous loss to Alize Cornet in Nottingham last week, but managed to exact revenge on the Frenchwoman just seven days later in Berlin. Aliaksandra Sasnovich will not be an easy rival though and despite a tough 2023 campaign, she’s finally picking up steam with the semifinals in Hertogenbosch and a win over Victoria Azarenka here. Sakkari remains the favorite, but you know Sasnovich will not go down without a fight.
Prediction: Sakkari in 3
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Ekaterina Alexandrova vs Coco Gauff
Head-to-head: Gauff 1-0
Everyone knows that Coco Gauff tends to struggle against opponents who can go hard at her forehand, especially in quicker conditions. That’s exactly what Ekaterina Alexandrova excels at with her flat hitting and serve/return game working wonderfully on the grass. The Russian is coming off a title in Hertogenbosch and should also be very high on confidence at the moment. Gauff will be under constant fire here, let’s she if she can extinguish it.
Prediction: Alexandrova in 2
Aryna Sabalenka vs Veronika Kudermetova
Head-to-head: Sabalenka 3-1
This is a pretty big one. Aryna Sabalenka finished runner-up at Wimbledon last year and is expected to remain one of the best grass-courters in the world this season as well. Veronika Kudermetova loves this surface too and is coming off a final at Hertogenbosch. When they played in the opening round here last year, it was actually the underdog who managed to prevail. It could be Sabalenka’s turn, but this match will tell us a lot about where she is right now.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 3
Main Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
