Day six of the WTA Madrid Open will feature eight high-quality matche on what promises to be an entertaining day in the Spanish capital. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the slate, including Aryna Sabalenka vs Elise Mertens. But who will book their spot in the fourth round?
WTA Madrid Day 6 Predictions
Maria Sakkari vs Jasmine Paolini
Head-to-head: Sakkari 1-1 Paolini
Maria Sakkari is taking some positive steps in her quest to return to form. Victory over Magda Linette was only her ninth in a challenging season. The Greek confirmed that she has reunited with her longtime coach Tom Hill. Hill’s presence could be the driving force behind Sakkari’s revival in Madrid. But that assertion will be tested when she faces Jasmine Paolini. The Italian dropped just three games in a clinical second-round win over Katie Boulter. Sakkari is showing signs of regaining her footwork and resilience. For the first time in a long time, she’s not burdened with pressure and expectation and that might help her in pulling off a statement win.
Prediction: Sakkari in 3
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Veronika Kudermetova vs Marta Kostyuk
Head-to-head: Kudermetova 2-0 Kostyuk
Marta Kostyuk registered her second career win over Emma Raducanu in a seesaw match that featured 11 breaks of serve. The Ukrainian will need to get her timing and precision right in her next encounter against Veronika Kudermetova. The Russian defeated her younger sister Polina in her opening match and then saved a match point against Cristian Bucsa. It’s the first time Kudermetova has posted back-to-back wins in the main draw since the Australian Open. She leads the head-to-head 2-0, but they haven’t met since 2021. Right now, Kostyuk is the steadier and a consistent performer between the two.
Prediction: Kostyuk in 2
Rebeka Masarova vs Peyton Stearns
Head-to-head: Stearns 1-0 Masarova
This is a third-round match that hardly featured in many people’s pre-tournament predictions. After a fine run from qualifying, Rebeka Masarova was expected to encounter her first speedbump in the second round against 22nd seed Yulia Putintseva. But the Swiss (recently switched from Spain) produced a colorful serving performance to win in straight sets. Meanwhile, Peyton Stearns recorded one of the biggest shocks so far by downing 15th seed Amanda Anisimova. It’s a match that will be on a knife-edge. Neither of these two players was fancied to make it within one round of the second week, but the advantage will most likely be with the higher-ranked American.
Prediction: Stearns in 2
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Elena Rybakina vs Elina Svitolina
Head-to-head: Rybakina 3-2 Svitolina
Rybakina recently fell out of the Top 10 and must defend semifinal points in Madrid to avoid a rankings slide. She produced a polished performance in beating Bianca Andreescu 6-3 6-2 in her first match of this year’s European clay swing. Svitolina, for her part, won her eighth match in a row. But the odds are stacked against her to make it nine, partly because of her losing record against Rybakina, but most importantly, her history in this tournament. Madrid is one of the few places Svitolina has struggled to play her best tennis in her career. This is only the first time she’s progressed into the third round in ten visits. There’s more fizzle than sizzle to Rybakina’s season, but she’ll still be the favorite to power into the last 16.
Prediction: Rybakina in 3
Main photo credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
