The WTA 1000 Beijing is well and truly underway and the excitement will surely continue as Day 3 features a lineup of mouthwatering matches that promise to keep us all on the edges of our seats. And as always, we here at LWOT bring the predictions with four featured here. We also predict the rest of the day’s matches, split between three other articles including Naomi Osaka vs Yulia Putinsteva, Jessica Pegula vs Diane Perry, and Coco Gauff vs Clara Burel. Who do you think will progress?
WTA Day 3 Predictions
Sofia Kenin vs Diana Shnaider
Head-to-Head: First Meeting
Sofia Kenin’s game was fearsome in her prime and every so often she shows glimpses of that level. She dispatched her first round opponent in straight sets and that should give her confidence going into this match. Shnaider remains a potent threat has she looks to cap off a spectacular season so far in the last months of the year. She has been one of the better performers on tour throughout the year and that has seen her rise to career high ranking of no. 16 in the world. She has a chance yet of making the year end tour finals and I don’t see her getting her eyes off that goal here by chasing all available points.
Prediction: Shnaider in 2
Hailey Baptiste vs Anna Kalinskaya
Head-to-Head: Kalinskaya 1:0 Baptiste
The only time these two players met, it was on the hard courts at Midlands USA. Kalinskaya saw off that match in a close third set and all indications point towards similar fireworks here. Baptiste seem at home in these conditions and Kalinskaya’s talents are well spoken of. Kalinskaya would need to be weary as she hasn’t played any matches since the end of her US Open campaign. A slow start would give Batiste all the momentum she needs to capitalize and level the head to head. I don’t put it past her in the slightest.
Prediction: Baptiste in 3
Yulia Starodubsteva vs Katerina Siniakova
Head-to-Head: Siniakova 1-0 Starodubsteva
Both players have demonstrated significantly different levels from where they were the last time they met earlier this season. Starodubsteva has glimpses of brilliance over the course of the last few weeks and will be confident in her chances of toppling Siniakova. The Czech’s best leveling should be able to withstand whatever the Ukrainian throws her wayl however, predicting what level she will be able to produce is difficult to do with any real certainty. Should this go long, I expect Siniakova to hold a slight advantage.
Prediction: Siniakova in 3
Emma Navarro vs Shuai Zhang
Head-to-Head: First Meeting
Shuai Zhang got a rare win on the back of a lengthy losing streak. The win couldn’t have come at a better venue as she got to reward her home fans for their support. Any hopes of building momentum on the back of that victory diminishes significantly as she faces off against Emma Navarro who is having a prolific season in contrast. The US Open semifinalist will take to the courts for the first time after her loss to the eventual champion at that stage in the competition. Zhang will take a lot of courage from her first round performance but Navarro’s level is a long way from anything she can muster right now.
Prediction: Navarro in 2
Main Photo Credit: Ray Acevedo-USA TODAY Sports
