It’s Day 3 at the WTA Hamburg European Open where top seed Donna Vekic aims to get her campaign up and running. Seven matches are on slate on Tuesday, and we look at four of them in a separate article. We also look at the rest of the day’s matches in a separate article. Who do you think will advance?
WTA Hamburg Day 3 Predictions
Mayar Sherif vs Eva Lys
Head-to-head: first meeting
Mayar Sherif is officially the highest-ranked Egyptian player in history. Sherif could break the top 30 with a win here as she looks to put paid to German hopes against Eva Lys. The 21-year-old Lys regards indoor hard courts as her strongest surface even though she has played the bulk of her matches on the pro circuit on red clay. Lys hasn’t quite established herself just yet, so we’ll take the Egpytian trailblazer to record an emphatic win on her favorite surface.
Prediction: Sherif in 2
Julia Grabher vs Diana Shnaider
Head-to-head: Shnaider 1-0 Grabher
Julia Grabher earned a much-needed win in her opening match, beating qualifier Miriam Bulgaru in straight sets. She ended a dismal run of five straight defeats. While her serve was efficient (saving five of six break points), giving away opportunities to someone as aggressive as Diana Shnaider will not go unpunished. The Russian is steadily rising through the ranks and has demonstrated some exceptional shotmaking ability. Shanider appears to be ready to rub shoulders with the WTA’s Top 100 mainstays and Grabher could be in a for tough afternoon.
Prediction: Shnaider in 2
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Donna Vekic vs Storm Hunter
Head-to-head: Vekic 1-0 Hunter
Donna Vekic is having a superb season. Her ranking and total wins are enough evidence to suggest she hasn’t even hit her peak. Fresh from winning the Hopman Cup alongside Borna Coric, Vekic will be expected to overwhelm Storm Hunter with her immense power off the ground. The Aussie lost heavily to Nadia Podoroska in Budapest, her only clay court match post-Wimbledon. Vekic took a while to find her footing on clay this past week, but she had a solid campaign. Expect a buttery smooth passage into the second round for the world #22.
Prediction: Vekic in 2
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
