The top seeds, tournament favourites and dark horses have all performed admirably so far in St Petersburg. A deep draw means we are in for a real treat in the latter stages of this tournament if that trend continues. As ever, we assess how each player in action on Wednesday should fair in our WTA St Petersburg Ladies Trophy day 3 predictions.
WTA St Petersburg Ladies Trophy Day 3 Predictions
Elena Rybakina vs Varvara Gracheva
Head-to-head: First meeting
Gracheva is a talented young player who may well be a mainstay on the WTA Tour for years to come. However, Rybakina is a special talent and it is a question of when and not if she becomes a dominant force in the women’s game. I think she makes that leap this year and she has already shown she means business this year. Expect the Kazakh to dominate off the ground here and win plenty of points behind her huge serve. A straightforward win for Rybakina seems the safe pick here.
Prediction: Rybakina in 2
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Sorana Cirstea vs Anett Kontaveit
Head-to-head: 5 – 0 Kontaveit
I’m not going to beat around the bush here. Cirstea has lost five all five of her previous meetings with Kontaveit. All five have come on hard courts. Cirstea won just one set across all five meetings and four of those meetings have come in the last two years. Kontaveit beat Cirstea thrice in what was a career year for the Romanian in 2021. The Estonian is in the form of her life and will win again comfortably here.
Predictions: Kontaveit in 2
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Belinda Bencic vs Kaja Juvan
Head-to-head: 1 – 0 Juvan
I said in the last round’s predictions that I expect Bencic to find her best and reestablish herself as a top player in the women’s game at this tournament. She wasn’t quite her clinical best against Kudermetova in her last match but there was enough there to think she will grow into this event. Juvan is a fine young player, but she doesn’t yet have the game or experience to deal with Bencic. the Swiss is a legitimate top ten player when in full flow and I expect her to show as much here.
Prediction: Bencic in 2
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Elise Mertens vs Petra Martic
Head-to-head: 2 – 0 Mertens
Martic did well to dismiss Rakhimova in her first round match. However, the Croat is short of form and facing an opponent she doesn’t enjoy playing. Mertens has never dropped a set against Martic and is in fine form this year. Expect the Belgian to assert her dominance once more in this match behind consistent, aggressive ball striking. Martic’s search for form in 2022 looks set to continue here.
Prediction: Mertens in 2
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Maria Sakkari vs Ekaterina Alexandrova
Head-to-head: 3 – 1 Sakkari
Alexandrova edged Giorgi in a tight affair as predicted. However, the Russian won’t be able to make as many inroads on serve here against Sakkari. The Greek has earned a place amongst the very best in the women’s game and is simply a cut above Alexandrova in every department. Barring a disastrous collapse by Sakkari, I can really only see this match panning out one way.
Prediction: Sakkari in 2
