There should be plenty of entertaining action on day three at the WTA Serbia Open, with every player in the draw surely desperate to build some momentum ahead of the forthcoming French Open. Rain washed out much of the play on day two, but that has left a packed schedule for the fans to enjoy on day three in Belgrade. But who will advance and who will fall to defeat? We also have predictions for matches featuring Rebecca Peterson.
WTA Serbia Open Day 3 Predictions
Anna Kalinskaya vs Kristina Mladenovic
Head-to-head: Mladenovic 2-1 Kalinskaya
This should be an interesting match. Kristina Mladenovic has not made a particularly impressive start to the season, but she has found some form of late. At the WTA Madrid Open she battled through the qualifying before reaching the second round in Rome, also as a qualifier. She has also won two of her previous three meetings with Anna Kalinskaya, although it was the Russian who came out on top when they last met. But Kalinskaya has been struggling with form and fitness of late. It is hard to see her getting the better of Mladenovic this time.
Prediction: Mladenovic in 2
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Nadia Podoroska vs Oceane Dodin
Head-to-head: Podoroska 3-0 Dodin
Nadia Podoroska will surely be targeting a deep run at the WTA Serbia Open, not least because she will have the pressure of last year’s run to the semifinals to live up to when she arrives at Roland Garros. Fortunately for the Argentine, after a largely indifferent start to the season, she has found some form since making her return to the European clay in Rome. She beat the great Serena Williams 7-5 7-6 in the second round there, before falling just short in the third round against Petra Martic.
Podoroska then made a solid start to her campaign in Belgrade, beating Timea Babos in three sets. Oceane Dodin, in contrast, has struggled on the clay this season. Her 6-3 7-5 victory over Kristyna Pliskova in the first round was no doubt doubly sweet as a result. But she seems unlikely to back it up against Podoroska. The Argentine has won all three of their previous meetings, including two clay-court meetings last season although she did have to go the distance in Palermo.
Prediction: Podoroska in 3
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Paula Badosa vs Mihaela Buzarnescu
Head-to-head: Buzarnescu 2-1 Badosa
Paula Badosa may have missed the action in Rome, but the Spaniard has put together a very fine clay-court season so far. She reached the semifinals in Charleston and backed that up with a run to the last four on home turf at the WTA Madrid Open. Badosa then started her campaign at the WTA Serbia Open with a comprehensive 6-2 6-3 win over Andrea Petkovic. Mihaela Buzarnescu had to work rather harder for her first-round win, but eventually edged out her compatriot Patricia Maria Tig in three sets. Unfortunately for the Romanian, this looks like being a challenge too far. Expect the in-form Badosa to have the edge.
Prediction: Badosa in 3
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