Day 3 of the WTA Charleston Open will be busy, with the remaining 13 round of 32 matches on the slate. 2020 Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin’s battle with Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic promises to be among the most fascinating contests on the third day. We here at LWOT predict all the action in our articles, including Jessica Pegula vs Iryna Shymanovich, Qinwen Zheng vs Maria Sakkari, and Emma Navarro vs Hailey Baptiste.
WTA Charleston Day 3 Predictions
Daria Kasatkina vs Lauren Davis
Head-to-head: First meeting
This will be Kasatkina’s first match since announcing she would represent Australia, switching from Russia. The styles of both players mean it could also be a lengthy battle. Kasatkina, last year’s runner-up at the Charleston Open, has yet to find her best tennis in 2025. While that might give Davis some hope of causing an upset, Kasatkina loves the conditions in Charleston and has a good record of coming through scrappy matches containing many long rallies. She has struggled most against players with firepower this season, which Davis does not have in abundance.
Prediction: Kasatkina in 2
Ekaterina Alexandrova vs Ann Li
Head-to-head: First meeting
Alexandrova has lost three consecutive matches since reaching the semifinal of the Qatar Open in February. Li looked very comfortable on the green clay in Charleston against Anna Blinkova and might fancy her chances of causing an upset. As always, how well Alexandrova serves will be pivotal to her success. The clay at the Charleston open is quicker than the red clay at other tournaments, but it is still not overwhelmingly fast. Li’s solid returning and formidable forehand are backed to take her to victory against the higher-ranked Alexandrova.
Prediction: Li in 3
Elise Mertens vs Varvara Gracheva
Head-to-head: Mertens 2-0 Gracheva
Mertens defeated Gracheva at this stage of last year’s Charleston Open. Gracheva is most natural on clay and can cause most players problems when her game is firing. The Frenchwoman’s issue has been finding that level consistently. Mertens’ terrific start to 2025 includes a title in Singapore and a runner-up finish in Hobart. She is adept at digging in and frustrating opponents, especially on clay. The four-time Grand Slam doubles champion starts as a slight favorite against Gracheva.
Prediction: Mertens in 3
Belinda Bencic vs Sofia Kenin
Head-to-head: Kenin 1-o Bencic
Bencic and Kenin’s only previous meeting was on grass nearly six years ago. They have similar playing styles. Both want to be aggressive from the baseline and possess two of the best backhands in the game when they are firing. Kenin’s best chance of beating Bencic is probably on clay. Although the Olympic gold medalist is solid on all surfaces, she has always been slightly less formidable on the dirt. It will also be her first clay court match since returning from maternity leave. Kenin’s level can be erratic, but she might face the Swiss at the right time.
Prediction: Kenin in 3
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images
