After an upset-filled start to the tournament, just 16 players remain in contention for the medal at the Tokyo Olympics. The exciting action should continue on day four with eight third-round matches on the slate and, as ever, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every scheduled match, including Maria Sakkari vs Elina Svitolina. But who will advance to the quarterfinals?
Tokyo Olympics Day 4 Predictions
Marketa Vondrousova vs Naomi Osaka
Jim: Osaka has looked very impressive so far on her return to action at the Tokyo Olympics, breezing through the first two rounds and losing only a handful of games in the process. Vondrousova has looked sharp too and should offer more resistance than the second seed’s first two opponents. But Osaka is surely the best hard-court player in the world. Expect her to demonstrate why again here.
Prediction: Osaka in 2
Damian: After not competing for a couple of months, it looks like Osaka has returned hungry for fresh success. That means trouble for anyone else in the draw, including someone like Vondrousova, who can’t do much to keep her on the backfoot.
Prediction: Osaka in 2
Yesh: Osaka looks comfortable and in absolutely blistering form. There are few women in the world who can keep up with her when she plays like this. Vondrousova isn’t one of them, especially on a hard court.
Prediction: Osaka in 2
Belinda Bencic vs Barbora Krejcikova
Jim: One rarely knows what to expect of Bencic, but the Swiss is having a good tournament so far, beating Jessica Pegula and Misaki Doi in comprehensive fashion. But Krejcikova is a cut above the American and the Japanese. The French Open champion has enough power and variety to ask Bencic questions that she may struggle to answer.
Prediction: Krejcikova in 3
Damian: Neither player has lost a set so far and they both seem to be enjoying the conditions in Tokyo. Krejcikova is somehow not yet experiencing any sort of first Grand Slam hangover and is instead still riding on the confidence from Paris.
Prediction: Krejcikova in 3
Yesh: This is a great matchup, and it’s a shame that we get it so early on in the tournament. Krejcikova is ascendant and consistently improving still, while Bencic is supremely talented. The Swiss is prone to some lapses in form, though, That could be the difference.
Prediction: Krejcikova in 2
Donna Vekic vs Elena Rybakina
Jim: Vekic delivered her best performance for some time to edge out Aryna Sabalenka in a third-set tiebreak in the second round. But her task does not get much easier here, with Rybakina in excellent form so far at the Tokyo Olympics. With fatigue perhaps an issue for Vekic after a long battle with Sabalenka, Rybakina may prove to be a challenge too far for the Croatian.
Prediction: Rybakina in 2
Damian: Vekic pulled off a huge upset over Sabalenka, but it’s not going to be easy to back it up. On the other side of the net will be Rybakina, who’s almost as powerful as the Belarusian and been crushing the ball in this tournament so far.
Prediction: Rybakina in 3
Yesh: Vekic is finally playing the way we know she could have the past few years. She can handle pace, and she can handle variety. Ultimately that means she can deal with whatever Rybakina throws at her.
Prediction: Vekic in 3
Karolina Pliskova vs Camila Giorgi
Jim: With seeds tumbling throughout the draw, Pliskova looks increasingly well-placed to go deep at the Tokyo Olympics. This will not be a straightforward day at the office for the Czech – Giorgi has dropped just nine games so far – but there are few players who can go toe-to-toe with Pliskova when she is in form and come out on top.
Prediction: Pliskova in 3
Damian: This could be the match of the round. Giorgi demolished her first two opponents, while Pliskova looks even more motivated to look for titles after falling in the final at Wimbledon. The Czech is the sensible pick, but Giorgi’s always dangerous on a given day.
Prediction: Pliskova in 3
Yesh: Giorgi is finally in good form. That’s something we haven’t seen from her ever, really, save perhaps at Wimbledon in 2018 though fans have been hoping desperately. She can beat Pliskova, but I don’t trust her to keep up this level yet.
Prediction: Pliskova in 3
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