The final day of the third round action at the WTA China Open in Beijing offers several exciting matches. This article features some incredible players who are title contenders. Top seed, Aryna Sabalenka and Chinese favourite, Qinwen Zheng will be in action. As always, LWOT will offer predictions for every match on the slate for Day 6, split between this and a separate article. But who will advance to the fourth round?
WTA Beijing Day 6 Predictions
Elise Mertens vs Cristina Bucsa
Head-to-Head: First meeting
Elise Mertens looked down and out in the first set against Elisabetta Cocciaretto but kept fighting and won the set. That set eventually decided the match in her favour. She was simply the better player in the crucial moments. This is the furthest Mertens has been at the China Open and has a great chance to go even further. Cristina Bucsa took out last year’s finalist with a fantastic performance. Bucsa’s counterpunching ability was in full flow. This is the best result for the Spaniard at the WTA 1000 level this year. She will look to do the same against Mertens but Mertens plays a completely different style to Samsonova and the same tactics might not disrupt her.
Prediction: Mertens in 3
Karolina Muchova vs Jaqueline Cristian
Head-to-Head: First meeting
Karolina Muchova is playing Rop 10 tennis currently and no one would want to face her in this form. She has lost just six games in her two matches and looks good to advance to the quarterfinals if she can maintain this level. Jaqueline Cristian made a remarkable comeback against Barbora Krejcikova to win consecutive matches for the first time since July. The Romanian saved four match points in the third set to earn a well-deserved victory. However, I don’t like her chances against Muchova.
Prediction: Muchova in 2
Qinwen Zheng vs Nadia Podoroska
Head-to-Head: Zheng 1-0 Podoroska
Qinwen Zheng delivered a dominant performance in the second round. She looks sharper after taking a break to rest and will have her sights on the title of her home tournament. Her serve has become a huge weapon and these quick courts also help. Nadia Podoroska had to be solid against Dayana Yastremska, who hit herself out of the match with unforced errors. Podoroska competes wholeheartedly but I am not sure if that would be enough against Zheng. The Chinese lost just one game the last time these two met and I expect a similar outcome.
Prediction: Zheng in 2
Aryna Sabalenka vs Ashlyn Krueger
Head-to-head: First meeting
Aryna Sabalenka had to work hard in the first set against Mananchaya Sawangkaew to win her 13th match in a row and continue her pursuit of the year-end World No.1 ranking. Ashlyn Krueger can be a tough player on her day and has been in good touch on hard courts but Sabalenka is on another level to any player currently. The top seed will welcome a good test to prepare for more difficult tests in the subsequent rounds.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 2
Main Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
