There is another packed schedule of WTA Cincinnati matches on Wednesday. 14 contests are on the slate in total. This article predicts four matches, including an intriguing matchup between Emma Navarro and teenage prodigy Mirra Andreeva. As always, we at LWOT also predict the rest of the action taking place in Cincinnati on Wednesday. But which players do you think will win?
WTA Cincinnati Day 2 Predictions
Diana Shnaider vs Shuai Zhang
Head-to-head: First meeting
This is an ideal first-round draw for Shnaider. Zhang was an excellent singles player in her prime, but she mostly plays doubles now. Her singles matches in 2024 have ended in defeats. It is tough to see how the 35-year-old can handle last week’s National Bank Open semifinalist Shnaider, one of the most improved players in women’s tennis.
Prediction: Shnaider in 2
Caroline Dolehide vs Taylor Townsend
Head-to-head: Townsend 3-0 Dolehide
The fast conditions in Cincinnati suit both players. Dolehide made the semifinals at the Citi DC Open over a week ago, while Townsend reached her first WTA-100o quarterfinal last week at the National Bank Open in Toronto. This is likely to be a tight battle, but Dolehide is given a narrow edge. She likes it when there is pace on the ball, and Towsend will provide her with that. However, how Townsend serves on the quick Cincinnati courts could be a determining factor in this matchup.
Prediction: Dolehide in 3
Beatriz Haddad Maia vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
Head-to-head: Pavlyuchenkova 3-0 Haddad Maia
Pavlyuchenkova has beaten Haddad Maia twice on hard courts this year in Adelaide and Indian Wells. Although Pavlyuchenkova possesses more power than the Brazilian, Haddad Maia might welcome the conditions in Cincinnati being quicker than Adelaide and Indian Wells. The 2021 French Open runner-up had time to line up her big groundstrokes in their previous encounters. Nonetheless, I still favor Pavlyuchenkova to find her range enough times to win again. This is a bad matchup for Haddad Maia, regardless of the conditions.
Prediction: Pavlyuchenkova in 3
Emma Navarro vs Mirra Andreeva
Head-to-head: First meeting
Navarro will need to refocus after a tough semifinal defeat to Amanda Anisimova at the National Bank Open a few days ago. The American is a pretty down-to-earth character, though, and will probably be able to brush off that loss. Andreeva will find it tough against Navarro if the American plays as well as last week in Toronto. This will also be Andreeva’s first match of the North American hard-court season. Playing someone as consistent as Navarro is not the best draw if she is rusty.
Prediction: Navarro in 2
Main Photo Credit: Ray Acevedo-USA TODAY Sports
