Six matches are on the menu on Wednesday at the WTA Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany. Friends become foes when Aryna Sabalenka and Paula Badosa clash in an intriguing second-round clash. Who will reach the last eight stage in Stuttgart? We also look at the rest of the day’s matches in a separate article.
WTA Stuttgart Day 3 Predictions
Ekaterina Alexandrova vs Ons Jabeur
Head-to-head: Alexandrova 1-1 Jabeur
Jabeur is entrenched in the world’s Top 10, but factoring in points earned in the current season, she sits 88th in the WTA Race to Riyadh. She has lost five matches in a row. Worryingly for the Tunisian, four of her six defeats this season have come against players outside the Top 40. By contrast, Alexandrova is in double digits on the winner’s column. She has reached two semifinals and was a runner-up in Linz. The formbook is an ominous sign the two-time Wimbledon finalist cannot be trusted to get a result right now.
Prediction: Alexandrova in 2
Coco Gauff vs Sachia Vickery
Head-to-head: first meeting
Since winning the title in Auckland at the start of the season, Gauff has lost five matches. But it’s not all doom and gloom because there are plenty of positives. There’s been a maiden Australian Open semifinal to celebrate. She’s also cemented her spot in the top three, with over a 100o-point gap over Elena Rybakina. Sachia Vickery is yet to drop a set in Stuttgart, having qualified supremely and then ousting Aliaksandra Sasnovich in a battle of the qualifiers. But the world #134 will struggle to hit through Gauff’s extraordinary defense. Vickery’s rally tolerance is also average at best, which is not sufficient when facing the WTA’s elite.
Prediction: Gauff in 2
Aryna Sabalenka vs Paula Badosa
Head-to-head: Sabalenka 3-2 Badosa
For the third year in a row, Sabalenka and Badosa will meet in Stuttgart. The Belarusian won their last two matches at this tournament by the tightest of margins. However, Badosa’s return to full fitness is certainly a massive confidence booster ahead of Wednesday’s match. She has warmed up nicely by beating Diana Shnaider in her opening match.
Sabalenka has not been at her domineering best since winning the Australian Open. A post-Grand Slam hangover coupled with the unfortunate news of the death of her former partner has heavily impacted her performances. She’s had ample time to reset, though, and looked in fine spirits training in Stuttgart. She could do with a big win here to restart her season.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 3
Main Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
