The completion of the US Open has not stopped the matches from coming thick and fast on the WTA Tour. The third day of the WTA San Diego Open features three of the Top 10 in the round of 16. This includes Maria Sakkari and Caroline Garcia, whose matches are among four predicted in this article. The remaining round of 16 clashes are predicted in a separate article–including Ons Jabeur vs Anastasia Potapova. Which players do you think will progress to the quarterfinals?
WTA San Diego Day 3 Predictions
Emma Navarro vs Aliaksandra Sasnovich
Head-to-head: Sasnovich 1-0 Navarro
These two met just a few weeks ago in Cleveland, with Sasnovich prevailing 7-5 in the final set. Sasnovich’s first round win was particularly notable, knocking out the fifth seed Belinda Bencic with an excellent performance. Navarro is the higher ranked of the two players, with the American being a slightly more consistent player. But Sasnovich’s best game is so dangerous when she finds it, as shown against Bencic. The momentum from that strong performance gives her a slight edge in this one.
Prediction: Sasnovich in 3
Jelena Ostapenko vs Danielle Collins
Head-to-head: Ostapenko 2-0 Collins
This is a hard one to call, simply because the level of these two players can fluctuate so much. Both showed that in different ways in the opening round. Ostapenko lost five games in a row to trail 5-2 in the final set against Ekaterina Alexandrova, before staging a sudden comeback to win it 7-5. Collins looked somewhat out of sorts in the first set against Louisa Chirico, but then won nine games in a row to prevail 7-5 6-0. The American gets a minor edge at the WTA San Diego Open. Collins has recently shown in patches some of the tennis that took her to the Australian Open final. This week might be when she puts it together to make a really deep run.
Prediction: Collins in 3
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Maria Sakkari vs Camila Osorio
Head-to-head: Sakkari 1-0 Osorio
Sakkari has been admirably honest about some of the struggles she has faced in recent times. The manner of her US Open exit in the first round demonstrated that. However, this is still the extremely talented player that reached the final in Washington a few weeks ago. A couple of weeks to regroup after her early exit at Flushing Meadows may have been a blessing in disguise. Her opponent Osorio’s results have been mixed this season. The Colombian played two very tight sets against Ons Jabeur at the US Open, showing she can be dangerous. But I think Sakkari will be at a much better level this week at the WTA San Diego Open. The Greek to get a much needed win in straight sets.
Prediction: Sakkari in 2
Caroline Garcia vs Sloane Stephens
Head-to-head: Garcia 4-3 Stephens
2023 as a whole has not been easy for WTA Tour Finals champion Garcia. But the American hard court season has been particularly rough, with just one match win in five tournaments played. Stephens also beat Garcia in Cincinnati a few weeks ago. The 2017 US Open winner also has the benefit of playing and winning a match already in San Diego, while Garcia received a bye in the first round as the second seed. But Garcia may just alleviate some of her struggles here. A two-week break to recharge after the US Open is likely to have also been helpful for her, and someone of her class surely cannot stay in a rut for much longer.
Prediction: Garcia in 3
Main Photo Credit: Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
