The WTA Wuhan Open matches continue to come thick and fast, with all the round of 16 contests being played on day four with a number of star names set to be in action. As always, we here at LWOT predict every match on day four, including Jessica Pegula vs Xinyu Wang. But who will advance to the quarterfinals?
WTA Wuhan Day 4 Predictions
Ekaterina Alexandrova vs Hailey Baptiste
Head-to-head: first meeting
Both players managed upsets to reach this stage. Hailey Baptiste knocked out Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova in straight sets, while Ekaterina Alexandrova overcame Anna Kalinskaya. This match will likely come down to fine margins since both women possess formidable serves but weaker returns. Despite Baptiste’s excellent performance in the last round, I trust Alexandrova slightly more to keep her concentration better in what promises to be a tight match.
Prediction: Alexandrova in 3
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Zheng Qinwen vs Leylah Fernandez
Head-to-head: Fernandez 2-0 Zheng
Leylah Fernandez won an epic and physical three-set contest against Kamilla Rakhimova in the previous round. The Canadian is among the fitter players on the WTA Tour, but recovering from that might still be challenging. Winning both of her previous encounters with Zheng will give Fernandez a boost. However, one of these was in 2022, when Zheng Qinwen was a much inferior player, and the Olympic gold medallist played very poorly in their match in Doha in February. Fernandez’s ability to take the ball early could rush Zheng’s forehand in particular, but the Chinese player is still the favorite in home conditions.
Prediction: Zheng in 3
Aryna Sabalenka vs Yulia Putintseva
Head-to-head: Putintseva 1-0 Sabalenka
This is a significant match in Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek’s race for the #1 ranking. If the Belarusian defeats Putintseva, she is guaranteed to overtake Swiatek the week after the tournament in Wuhan ends. Can the Kazakhstani stop that from happening? The 29-year-old has defeated Swiatek and Jessica Pegula this year, and her variety could cause Sabalenka issues. She also defeated the world N#2 in their only meeting, although that was back in 2019. Sabalenka is the favourite, but expect the match to be competitive.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 2
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Coco Gauff vs Marta Kostyuk
Head-to-head: Gauff 2-1 Kostyuk
These two played one of the most underrated matches of 2024 when they last met. Marya Kostyuk won a dramatic battle 3-6 6-4 7-6(8-6) on the indoor clay courts in Stuttgart. Coco Gauff won their other two encounters, but they also went to three sets. Kostyuk’s strong second-serve return and ability to hit regularly to the American’s forehand mean she can exploit Gauff’s weaknesses if the 20-year-old is struggling. Gauff’s greater firepower and recent form might give her the edge, but this should be an enjoyable match once again between two of the best athletes in the women’s game.
Prediction: Gauff in 3
Main photo credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
