Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka plays just her second match since that triumph in Melbourne on the fourth day in Indian Wells. Her contest is one of four predicted in this article. As always, we at LWOT predict all the other WTA matches on day 4 in Indian Wells, including Coco Gauff vs Clara Burel and Elina Svitolina vs Katerina Siniakova. Which players do you think will make the next round?
WTA Indian Wells Day 4 Predictions
Sloane Stephens vs Sorana Cirstea
Head-to-head: Cirstea 2-1 Stephens
These two met a couple of weeks ago in Doha, with Cirstea comfortably winning 6-3 6-2. The Romanian also won their previous meeting on a hard court. Yet, I think Stephens will triumph this time. The conditions in Indian Wells will assist her in dealing with Cirstea. They are slow and high-bouncing, which will help Stephens soak up Cirstea’s powerful hitting and effectively use her heavy topspin forehand. The American’s level can be inconsistent, but she will have enough skills to prevail in Indian Wells if she is on her game.
Prediction: Stephens in 2
Qinwen Zheng vs Yue Yuan
Head-to-head: First meeting
Zheng’s level has been pretty good since her run to the Australian Open final. Her losses in Doha and Dubai came after very good performances from Leylah Fernandez and world No. 1 Iga Swiatek. This is a dangerous first match for the Australian Open runner-up. Her compatriot Yuan won her first title in Austin last week and easily beat Varvara Gracheva in the opening round. Both players will look to hit powerfully through the slow conditions in California. Zheng’s superior serve to get free points might be the difference, but this could be a tight battle in Indian Wells.
Prediction: Zheng in 3
Caroline Garcia vs Viktoriya Tomova
Head-to-head: First meeting
Tomova has played some good tennis this season, which led to the 29-year-old reaching a career-high ranking last month. She showed that improvement by defeating 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin in the last round. It is so hard to know what to expect from last year’s runner-up in Lyon, Caroline Garcia. After her amazing 2022 season, she has been inconsistent ever since. At her best, her powerful game will overwhelm Tomova. But it is hard to predict any of the Frenchwoman’s matches with confidence.
Prediction: Garcia in 3
Aryna Sabalenka vs Peyton Stearns
Head-to-head: First meeting
In truth, Sabalenka did not seem fully ready or focused in her last tournament in Dubai, where she lost against Donna Vekic. She had skipped the WTA 1000 the previous week in Doha, and I do not think the Middle East swing after her Australian Open triumph was a priority for her. Sabalenka will be much stronger mentally here. Stearns is a dangerous and powerful player. However, she is unlikely to be consistent enough against Sabalenka, who will come through her first match in Indian Wells with a much better performance than in Dubai.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 2
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey – USA TODAY Sports
