Paula Badosa and Karolina Muchova went deep in Beijing (both only lost to Coco Gauff), but then decided to skip the next WTA 1000 event in Wuhan. They’re both back for the WTA 250 in Ningbo and should be among the main contenders to claim the title. On Wednesday, Muchova faces Olivia Gadecki and Badosa takes on Xiyu Wang. Who do you think will advance to the next stage of the event?
WTA Ningbo Day 3 Predictions
Yulia Putintseva vs Ella Seidel
Head-to-head: First meeting
Yulia Putintseva came pretty close to eliminating Aryna Sabalenka in Wuhan with the Belarusian eventually picking up the title. But it’s been a solid season for her and she’s posted many good runs while consistently troubling top opposition. That level would have to suddenly go away if Ella Seidel was going to defeat her in Ningbo. It doesn’t seem like it has with Putintseva losing just two games in her opening round match against Caroline Dolehide.
Prediction: Putintseva in 2
Karolina Muchova vs Olivia Gadecki
Head-to-head: First meeting
Karolina Muchova probably did the smart thing skipping Wuhan after her Beijing heroics and she knows best how to manage her body to hopefully avoid more injuries. Because the moment she was back healthy, she instantly skyrocketed back to the top. And while Gadecki has done very well in recent weeks (especially getting to the Guadalajara final), it’s tough to see what she can do against such a smart player with an extremely wide skillset.
Prediction: Muchova in 2
Daria Kasatkina vs Katerina Siniakova
Head-to-head: Kasatkina 4-1
Daria Kasatkina has a sizeable lead in the head-to-head, but the last match between these two was actually won by Katerina Siniakova in Hamburg two years ago. Nonetheless they know each other very well and will be fully aware of what the other can bring to the court. Form-wise you have to favor Kasatkina, but Siniakova has the tools to apply pressure with all-court tactics and has done well in this part of the season before. She could make it tough.
Prediction: Kasatkina in 3
Paula Badosa vs Xiyu Wang
Head-to-head: 1-1
Paula Badosa was handed a nightmare opening draw here, but managed to fend off Diana Shnaider in three sets. Now it’s time for her to play against Xiyu Wang and while that’s a significant improvement, the lefty Chinese has a high ceiling and peaked to win a title at home last year (Guangzhou). But Badosa has been amazing since her back pain eased off a little and seems to be playing at that Top 10 level we were only seeing on occasion the last few years.
Prediction: Badosa in 2
Tamara Korpatsch vs Mirra Andreeva
Head-to-head: Andreeva 2-0
Mirra Andreeva beat Tamara Korpatsch in two rollercoaster matches last year. Has the Russian made enough progress for their next meeting to be a lot more comfortable? Probably, but the 17-year-old can still struggle with fellow defensively-oriented players from time to time. Having that ability to control the points and lead the way isn’t always a blessing for her. Still, she’s the one with a much higher ceiling here and plenty of options to adjust mid-match if necessary.
Prediction: Andreeva in 2
Main Photo Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
