The top-seed players take the court on day 3 at WTA Indian Wells as the California desert heats up with some terrific matches on the slate. No. 7 seed Marketa Vondrousova gets her Indian Wells campaign underway against American Bernarda Pera. As always, we at LWOT have the preview and prediction for that match and all other happenings around the grounds of the desert. In three separate articles, we have match predictions featuring Iga Swiatek vs Danielle Collins, Elena Rybakina vs Nadia Podoroska, and Ons Jabeur vs Katie Volynets. Who do you think will advance?
WTA Indian Wells Day 3 Predictions
Ekaterina Alexandrova vs Yulia Putintseva
Head-to-Head: Alexandrova 1-0 Putintseva
Ekaterina Alexandrova has played some solid tennis of late, holding a 5-3 record over the last month. She crushed Putintseva last year in Charleston 6-1 6-3. Although Alexandrova prefers hardcourts, her game should adapt well to the slow courts in the desert. Putintseva was on a four-match losing streak before she took down Tamara Korpatsch in Round 1. Alexandrova’s form and ability to control rallies should lead her to victory.
Prediction: Alexandrova in 2
Marie Bouzkova vs Anastasia Potapova
Head-to-Head: Bouzkova 2-0 Potapova
Maire Bouzkova and Anastasia Potapova are separated by just seven spots in the WTA rankings. They had similar 2023 seasons, but Potapova has gotten off to a much better start in 2024. Bouzkova is just 2-5 in her last seven matches. Expect an exciting baseline battle between these two, but I like the power of Potapova to put enough pressure to force Bouzkova into a bevy of errors.
Prediction: Potapova in 3
Beatriz Haddad Maia vs Rebecca Sramkova
Head-to-Head: Haddad Maia 3-1 Sramkova
No. 12 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia gets her WTA Indian Wells campaign underway against Rebecca Sramkova. The 27-year-old Slovak advanced through qualifying and picked up a convincing Round 1 win over Yafan Wang. It was the first 1000-level victory of her career. Although she comes into this match with confidence, I do not believe Sramkova has the weapons to pierce the game of Haddad Maia. The Brazilian should roll in straight sets.
Prediction: Haddad Maia in 2
Marketa Vondrousova vs Bernarda Pera
Head-to-Head: Vondrousova 0-1 Pera
No. 7 seed Marketa Vondrousova gets her WTA Indian Wells campaign underway against 29-year-old American Bernarda Pera. Pera has played well in qualies this year but is just 2-6 in WTA main draw matches. Vondrousova did not have the best start to her season but reached the quarterfinals in Dubai two weeks ago and seems to have turned a corner. She reached the fourth round of Indian Wells the last two years and should be able to breeze past Pera.
Prediction: Vondrousova in 2
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane – USA TODAY Sports
