After a packed day two at the WTA Monastir Open, there are just four matches on the schedule on day three in Tunisia. But all four promise plenty of intrigue and entertainment. As always, we here at LWOT are offering our predictions for every match on the slate, but who will advance?
WTA Monastir Day 3 Predictions
Sara Errani vs Lucia Bronzetti
Head-to-head: Errani 1-0 Bronzetti
When this pair first met last season in the qualifying in Monterrey, Sara Errani won at a canter, dropping just four games in a 6-3 6-1 win. A year on and it has hard to see that result being repeated. Errani can still cause opponents problems with her unorthodox style, including an excellent slice backhand, as she demonstrated by beating Tamara Zidansek 6-2 6-7 6-3 in the first round.
But she is not the player she once was, whereas Lucia Bronzetti really looks to be finding her feet on the main tour. She looked sharp in dispatching Kristina Kucova in striaght sets in the first round and more of the same should see her safely past her compatriot and into the quarterfinals.
Prediction: Bronzetti in 2
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Irina Shymanovich vs Elise Mertens
Head-to-head: first meeting
Elise Mertens hasn’t had the season she would have wanted, but has still played consistently enough to retain a top 40 ranking. She got off to a slow start against Alexandra Eala in the first round, but found her range in the end to race through the second set without losing a game. There are elements of her game she will need to improve on against Irina Shymanovich, who scored a fine first-round win over Laura Pigossi, but the Belgian has the ability to make those improvements. If she does, particularly on second serve, she should have the beating of the Belarusian.
Prediction: Mertens in 2
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Nadia Podoroska vs Mai Hontama
Head-to-head: Hontama 1-0 Podoroska
Mai Hontama made short work of Nadia Podoroska on home turf in Osaka. She won’t be able to rely on the support of the crowd to the same degree, unless she has a hitherto unknown popularity in Tunisia, but fortunately for the Japanese there was far more to her win in Osaka than support from the stands. Podoroska is a better player away from the clay than she was at the start of her career, but she is still isn’t really comfortable anywhere but the terre battue. This should be another comfortable win for the in-form Hontama.
Prediction: Hontama in 2
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Lucrezia Stefanini vs Katarzyna Kawa
Head-to-head: first meeting
Both Lucrezia Stefanni and Katarzyna Kawa had to work hard for their spot in the second round at the WTA Monastir Open, with Kawa outlasting third seed Martina Trevisan 7-5 in the third whilst Stefanini rallied past her compatriot Camilla Rosatello 5-7 6-3 6-1. It was probably Kawa’s victory that was the more impressive, however. It’s been an up-and-down season for the Pole, not helped by injuries, but she’s been playing some solid tennis recently. Stefanini is a good enough player to ask questions of Kawa, but if the 30-year-old can maintain the level she dispalyed against Trevisan, she should have the edge.
Prediction: Kawa in 3
Main photo credit: Landon Bost/Naples Daily News/USA TODAY Network-Florida / USA TODAY NETWORK
