Emma Raducanu will try to avoid being the second player upset by Cristina Bucsa in Beijing. The Spaniard defeated last year’s Olympic Silver Medalist Donna Vekic to set up the meeting with Raducanu. That contest is among four predicted here. We at LWOT predict all 16 matches, including Mirra Andreeva vs Lin Zhu, Iga Swiatek vs Yue Yuan, and Naomi Osaka vs Aliaksandra Sasnovich.
WTA Beijing Day 4 Predictions
Anna Kalinskaya vs Camila Osorio
Head-to-head: Kalinskaya 1-1 Osorio
Osorio’s 7-5 6-7 7-5 victory against Ann Li in the slow conditions was a lengthy and grueling battle. I do not expect that to impact the Colombian in this match, since she had a day off and is among the fittest players on the WTA Tour. However, that will not count for much if Kalinskaya hits her groundstrokes near their potential. The 28th seed is a much better hard-court player.
Prediction: Kalinskaya in 2
Diana Shnaider vs Maya Joint
Head-to-head: First meeting
This could be one of the best second-round matches. 19-year-old Joint’s progress this year has been outstanding, and she could win Grand Slams in the future. Shnaider needs to find the right balance between utilizing her greater firepower without overhitting against the Australian’s defense. In slow conditions, Joint’s solidity might have the edge.
Prediction: Joint in 3
Linda Noskova vs Xiyu Wang
Head-to-head: Wang 2-1 Noskova
Wang’s left-handed topspin forehand is crucial to her success. I think the home favorite will struggle to impose that shot effectively in this matchup. Noskova’s movement is the weakest part of her game, but the court speed should prevent the Czech from consistently being off-balance from Wang’s forehand. That gives her a better chance of hitting through the Chinese player and progressing.
Prediction: Noskova in 2
Emma Raducanu vs Cristina Bucsa
Head-to-head: Raducanu 1-1 Bucsa
Raducanu thrashed Bucsa in their most recent meeting at the Queen’s Club a few months ago, but the Spaniard narrowly won their sole previous hard-court match at the Singapore Open in January. Bucsa will try to frustrate Raducanu with her flat shots without overwhelming pace. The 2021 US Open champion is usually more willing to be patient in the rallies than Vekic was in the last round, which can help her grind through.
Prediction: Raducanu in 2
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
