Day 3 in St Petersburg sees three of the top four seeds–including #1 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova–in action for the first time. Joining them is the winner of the 2015 edition of the tournament, Jelena Ostapenko. Wednesday’s action should give us a good idea of who should be favourite to take home the trophy. Most of the top players featured are in good form coming into this tournament, which should make for some great matches in the later rounds. As ever, we take a stab at picking who should move on when the dust settles in our WTA St Petersburg Ladies Trophy day 3 predictions.
WTA St Petersburg Ladies Trophy Day 3 Predictions
Katarina Zavatska vs Anastasia Gasanova
Head-to-head: First meeting
Gasanova’s 2021 has stalled considerably since her memorable win over Karolina Plíšková in Abu Dhabi. Her two wins in qualifying in St Petersburg were the first back-to-back wins the Russian put together since then. However, at just 21 her future in the game looks positive. She has shown she has the game to keep up with those inside the top 100 on the women’s tour. She can go a long way to reinforcing that narrative with a strong showing in St Petersburg.
Standing in her way is Zavatska, another promising young talent on the women’s tour. The Ukrainian has come very close to breaking into the top 100, holding a career high ranking of #103. A few wins in St Petersburg should allow her to finally break through that barrier. Both players may well be nervous as this represents a golden opportunity for each. I think Zavatska has more to her game than the Russian at this stage. She also has more tour level experience, and that will be decisive in what could be a cagey affair. Take the Ukrainian to advance here.
Prediction: Zavatska in 3
Fiona Ferro vs Vera Zvonareva
Head-to-head: First meeting
Zvonareva Comfortably won her first round match against Rodionova to get her St Petersburg campaign underway. She now faces #3 seed Fiona Ferro, who is fresh off a semifinal run in Lyon. The Russian is in the twilight of her career but has shown she can wind back the clock and produce elite level tennis on occasion. She will need that level against Ferro if she is to have any hope of coming through this match.
The French clay courter is growing more and more comfortable on hard courts with each tournament she plays. She should have made the final in Lyon two weeks ago, but her game left her in the big moments of a third set she lost to runner up Viktorija Golubic. However, she is one of the best performers on the tour over the past six months. Her forehand is a lethal weapon, particularly given how quickly she can move around the court and set it up. Zvonareva will struggle to hit through her and likely won’t have the legs to keep up with an in form Ferro determined to make up for her stumble in Lyon.
Prediction: Ferro in 2
Svetlana Kuznetsova vs Xinyu Wang
Head-to-head: First meeting
Home town favorite and #4 seed Kuznetsova gets her campaign underway against young rising star Wang. The Chinese prodigy did well to keep her composure after losing a tight second set to Tomova in her first round match up. She looks to have plenty of promise and upside, and should have a successful year on the tour if she can keep playing at this level. However, Kuznetsova is a big step up for Wang.
The Russian is a former Grand Slam champion and one of the best counterpunchers in the women’s game. Her serve is attackable, but other than that there are no real flaws in her game. The fast courts of St Petersburg should help her make up for the touch of power she has lost in recent years. Given that advantage, I can’t see Wang being able to hit big enough for long enough to get through the Russian. Kuznetsova should move on here.
Prediction: Kuznetsova in 3
Jelena Ostapenko vs Jaqueline Cristian
Head-to-head: First meeting
Jaqueline Cristian did well to make it to the second round after a tight affair against Vera Lapko. Unfortunately for the Romanian, she now faces a Jelena Ostapenko in blistering form. Cristian has a big game in her own right, with power from both wings when she is firing. However, few, if any, on the WTA Tour can live with Ostapenko when she is in a groove.
She was in that groove in her first round matchup and blitzed Paula Badosa Gibert for the loss of just four games. Ostapenko has a weak and attackable serve which Cristian should be able to capitalise on. However, the Romanian will have to serve very well herself if she wants to do more than just watch balls fly back past her. Ostapenko can rack up winners like it’s nobody’s business and, given her play in her first match, I expect her to do just that in this round as well. Ostapenko should move on comfortably.
Prediction: Ostapenko in 2
Ekaterina Alexandrova vs Tereza Martincova
Head-to-head: Alexandrova 2 – 3 Martincova
Alexandrova is the top seed in St Petersburg. Last time the Russian was a top seed things didn’t go well for her. In Lyon two weeks ago, Alexandrova bombed out in the first round courtesy of a straight sets defeat to eventual champion Clara Tauson. However, the Russian’s game is tailormade for hard indoor courts. She hits flat and hard off both wings and can rack up winners when she is on form. Her serve can be shaky at times, but if it holds up she will be a tough out in this tournament and deserves to be considered a favourite to win it.
Martincova just about came through a tight first round match with Stefanie Voegele. The Czech should have won more comfortably than she did. Too many unforced errors made the encounter close and that has been a common theme for Martincova this year. She has the game to be a regular on the WTA Tour, but needs to be able to play well consistently if she hopes to become just that. Alexandrova will be desperate to male amends for her poor showing in Lyon. Given Martincova’s inconsistencies, I think the Russian will do just that here.
Prediction: Alexandrova in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
