The Aegon International started positively with some great matches for spectators to get to see in person, but after a day full of nonstop rain, the tournament’s sixth day of action features many players potentially playing twice. That means the line up is action-packed with tonnes of star players. I look at the four matches of the day to look out for that may grab the headlines on Wednesday at Eastbourne.
Sorana Cirstea [LL] vs Johanna Konta [5]
The British No.1, fifth seed and Wimbledon hope, Johanna Konta starts her run in Eastbourne against a familiar face for all the wrong reasons. Cirstea and Konta last faced in that controversial Fed Cup tie, where Ilie Nastase made all the headlines in a heated tie for all involved.
Cirstea’s made it this far as a lucky loser, but Konta loves Eastbourne, has a family home here and really looks forward to her week stay at this tournament. I think this match means a lot more to the Brit than Cirstea and I can only see a British win tomorrow.
Prediction: Konta in two sets
Garbiñe Muguruza [11] vs Barbora Strycova
Former Wimbledon finalist and last week’s semi-finalist in Birmingham, Garbiñe Muguruza faces Olympic medalist Barbora Strycova in the second round of the Aegon International. Muguruza leads the head-to-head by 3-1 but Strycova won a big match against the Spaniard in the Australian Open of 2016. I think Strycova can upset the apple cart. If the day provides difficult conditions with blustery wind I can see Strycova causing many problems.
Muguruza has the game to pull off big wins on this surface, but her main issue is consolidating a good week the following week. Her in-and-out brand of tennis really is her achilles heel, but it seems like she’s accepted that that’s how she will move forward with her tennis.
The key for Strycova is to get Muguruza move in awkward positions in uncomfortable directions on the court by preventing the Spaniard from seeing the same ball time after time. Strycova has the ability to do that, but I think Muguruza will be dialled in and prepared for someone she has already faced four times.
Prediction: Muguruza in three sets
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova [14] vs Heather Watson [WC]
Heather Watson’s career had reached a standstill. She was losing tight matches over and over, but in some matches she played incredibly well, yet didn’t get the designed result that everyone is looking for. An example of that was her loss against Elina Svitolina in Birmingham at the Aegon Classic. It left people wondering whether Watson was ever going to turn a corner and get a bit of luck, but that soon occurred here in Eastbourne. She beat Lesia Tsurenko in Round 1 then picked up the win of her career by beating defending champion Dominika Cibulkova in straight sets.
Pavlyuchenkova’s a tricky opponent though. I watched Pavlyuchenkova in her first round against Elise Mertens and she was a set and a break down, but found a way to get the victory. I think Pavlyuchenkova has improved loads just when her career raised more questions than answers. The two quarter-finals at majors at Wimbledon last year and at Australian Open this year, shows that the Russian can be a contender. She has a great all-court game. She throws in different things to put off her opponent and possesses tremendous power off both wings. But can she be more consistent and execute her game more often to the point where she can make major finals. That’s still yet to be addressed.
I think this’ll be one of the matches to look out for. Watson’s got confidence after the Cibulkova upset and Pavlyuchenkova plays well on grass and could even be a player that storms through the draw at Wimbledon.
Prediction: Pavlyuchenkova in two sets
Caroline Wozniacki [6] vs Naomi Osaka
The defensive skills of the No.6 seed Wozniacki goes up against a talented striker of the ball in Naomi Osaka in the second round of the Aegon International. Wozniacki’s career has really been about hustling and scrambling from the back of the court and being a considerable nuisance to the more aggressive, direct opponents and Osaka very much fits that mold.
Wozniacki doesn’t adjust as well to the grass as she does to a hard court. That’s where her best results have come if you consider her exemplary results at the US Open, getting to the final twice, and I feel like Wozniacki struggles with the lack of time that she is given on a fast grass court. Can Wozniacki get enough balls back to make Osaka more hesitant and reluctant to execute her game style. The Japanese still is getting to grips with a grass court and the difference in movement and timing on this surface, but I feel like in years to come, Osaka will really discover that a grass court is something she’ll learn to get better on. Whether she discovers that potential in 2017, is a completely different question.
Prediction: Wozniacki in two sets
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