The third day of the 2024 WTA Brisbane International brings up the return of Naomi Osaka, who’ll play her first match post-pregnancy against Tamara Korpatsch. Has the Japanese really found a lot of motivation and will bring in a very serious level from the get-go? Who do you think will advance? We also look at the rest of the day’s matches in a separate article.
WTA Brisbane Day 3 Predictions
Julia Riera vs Viktoriya Tomova
Head-to-head: First meeting
Julia Riera’s rise in 2023 was mostly built on her clay performances with just nine hard court matches played during the whole season. Despite that, she managed to qualify for this event with wins over Priscilla Hon and Mai Hontama and from these players, Viktoriya Tomova doesn’t actually seem like all that much of a step up. Still, the Argentinian grinder is probably the underdog in this one with the pretty fast conditions in Brisbane suiting her opponent much more.
Predictions: Tomova in 2
Kimberly Birrell vs Olivia Gadecki
Head-to-head: Gadecki 3-0
Olivia Gadecki defeated Kimberly Birrell three times on the ITF Tour in 2022, but every single one of these matches went to a deciding set. Still, the 21-year-old is the brighter prospect and put in so much good work at the lower levels of competition last year, despite going 1-5 in finals. Adding to that her stellar qualifying campaign here with straight-set wins over Valeriya Savinykh and Aleksandra Krunic, she emerges as the favorite to take down Birrell again (but maybe in three?).
Predictions: Gadecki in 3
Linda Noskova vs Timea Babos
Head-to-head: First meeting
Linda Noskova had such an electric start to the previous season, scoring upset after upset on the way to the final in Adelaide. While she’s still struggling to find consistency, from time to time she reminds us of how talented she is. The Australian summer suits her in terms of the conditions and she should be able to stay on top of the rallies here. Timea Babos had to fight hard in the qualifying and at least in singles, her best days are probably already behind her.
Predictions: Noskova in 2
Naomi Osaka vs Tamara Korpatsch
Head-to-head: First meeting
Naomi Osaka is back and we have very little intel regarding her potential level. It’s been over a year since her last appearance (Tokyo 2022), but the Japanese seems to have rediscovered her love for the sport during the time away, at least that’s what her interviews sound like. Tamara Korpatsch is not a perfect first-round opponent and the Austrian finished her 2023 campaign by winning a title in Cluj-Napoca. But maybe returning right after the off-season is a perfect moment as that match rhythm will be long gone for Korpatsch by now?
Predictions: Osaka in 3
Main Photo Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
