Day six at the WTA Cincinnati Open is packed with great matches as third-round action continues. As ever, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for all eight matches on the slate, including Barbora Krejcikova vs Iva Jovic, but who will secure their spot in the round of 16 in Ohio?
WTA Cincinnati Day 6 Predictions
Jelena Ostapenko vs Lucia Bronzetti
Head-to-head: Ostapenko 1-0 Bronzetti
Jelena Ostapenko made her way into the third round via walkover as her second-round opponent, Camila Osorio, couldn’t compete due to injury. This is just the second time in nine appearances that Ostapenko has made it past the second round here with WTA Cincinnati not a happy hunting ground for the Latvian historically. She has yet to play a match, and it’s going to be a tough match against Lucia Bronzetti, who upset Daria Kasatkina in the second round. However, Bronzetti made a lot of errors in that match and won’t get away with it against Ostapenko. She needs to be solid and force errors from Ostapenko’s racquet to have a chance of winning.
Prediction: Ostapenko in 3
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Jasmine Paolini vs Ashlyn Krueger
Head-to-head: first meeting
Jasmine Paolini got a well-deserved win against Maria Sakkari in the second round. She perhaps made harder work of it harder than she needed to, but still did well to kill of Sakkari’s momentum every time the Greek threatened to get back into the contest. The Italian played some great tennis at times, but needs to be more consistent going further. After being bageled by Anastasija Sevastova in the second set of their second-round encounter, Ashlyn Krueger showed great composure to win the third set. Krueger hit 11 double faults in that match and simply has to improve against Paolini if she is to have a chance. After all, her serve is the biggest advantage for Krueger in this matchup, and if it misfires, she will be in trouble.
Prediction: Paolini in 3
Jessica Pegula vs Magda Linette
Head-to-head: Pegula 3-0 Linette
Jessica Pegula is off to a solid start in Cincinnati, as she did not get broken in a straight-sets win over Kimberly Birrell. This is a big tournament for Pegula, who needs a deep run before the US Open. Magda Linette played a great second set to defeat Rebecca Sramkova. The first set was tight, and winning that was crucial for Linette. She has advanced to the third round of the Cincinnati Open for the first time, but she will face an opponent against whom she has never won a set. Linette can keep it tight for a set if she plays well, but Pegula should win.
Prediction: Pegula in 2
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Coco Gauff vs Dayana Yastremska
Head-to-head: Gauff 3-1 Yastremska
World #2 Coco Gauff played her best match of this North American hard-court swing to defeat Xinyu Wang in straight sets. She did not make any double faults in the second set, which should give her confidence going forward. She now faces a very difficult opponent in Dayana Yastremska, who has troubled her a lot this season. Yastremska upset Gauff the last time these two met, and her big hitting can overwhelm the American No.1. However, Yastremska was far from her best in the second round and was broken four times. She needs to be more efficient behind her serve to win this. Gauff should be well-placed to get revenge.
Prediction: Gauff in 3
Main photo credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images
