The WTA Beijing Open continues after three superb days of tennis. There are 11 matches in total on a very busy day in China. Last year’s US Open champion Iga Swiatek is one of the players in action, and her match is one of four predicted in this article. We at LWOT also have two separate articles predicting the other seven matches on day 3 in Beijing.
WTA Beijing Day 4 Predictions
Mirra Andreeva vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
Head-to-head: First meeting
Andreeva made a statement with her win against Barbora Krejcikova. She lost just four games, and her level was even better than all of her performances at Wimbledon. This is Pavlyuchenkova’s first match at the WTA Beijing Open. She was given a performance bye after reaching the semifinal in Tokyo last week. That shows her comfort in the quick conditions in Asia. But I am giving her teenage compatriot the edge. Andreeva used the pace of the conditions so effectively against Krejcikova, and I think this is a matchup where she can do that again.
Prediction: Andreeva in 2
Caroline Garcia vs Yulia Putintseva
Head-to-head: Putintseva 3-1 Garcia
The head-to-head record is somewhat misleading between these two. All three of Putintseva’s wins against Garcia were from 2011-2014 when the Frenchwoman was far from the player she is now. They played this year on the clay in Madrid, and Garcia prevailed in straight sets. Putintseva has had a good Asian hard-court season, reaching the semifinals in Guangzhou and the quarterfinals at the Japan Women’s Open. This match is mostly on Garcia’s racket, and whether she can find her range with her very aggressive style. The World Tour Finals champion has looked better in recent weeks, and I think she will fire her way to victory, but possibly lose a set along the way.
Prediction: Garcia in 3
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Jessica Pegula vs Anna Blinkova
Head-to-head: Pegula 1-0 Blinkova
This could be a dangerous match for Pegula. It comes just a few days after her loss in the final at the Tokyo Open. A positive for the American #2 is that all of her matches in Japan were short, and ended in two sets. Mental fatigue is probably a bigger concern. Blinkova did perform impressively to topple Donna Vekic in the opening round. However, Pegula should come through at the WTA Beijing Open. Her superb hand-eye coordination is likely to be too much for Blinkova, even if she is below par after her efforts in Tokyo.
Prediction: Pegula in 2
Iga Swiatek vs Varvara Gracheva
Head-to-head: First meeting
There were positive signs for Swiatek against Sara Sorrbies Tormo. The Pole came to the net more than usual, and looked mostly comfortable, although she is still not at her absolute best. I expect her to win relatively easily against Gracheva. The Frenchwoman got a good win against Anastasia Potapova, but has mostly struggled for victories in recent months. Her style is also not suitable for troubling Swiatek to any great degree. This is a good opportunity for the four-time Grand Slam champion to build some momentum at the WTA Beijing Open.
Prediction: Swiatek in 2
Main Photo Credit: The Enquirer
