Second-round action commences on day three of the WTA Monterrey Open. There are four intriguing matches on the schedule in Monterrey and, as always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for all four matches. But who will advance to the quarterfinals in Nuevo Leon?
WTA Monterrey Day 3 Predictions
Wang Xinyu vs Beatriz Haddad Maia
Head-to-head: Haddad Maia 1-0 Maia
Wang Xinyu dominated the eighth seeded Ann Li 6-2 6-1 in the opening round. Beatriz Haddad Maia was far less impressive as she defeated Panna Udvardy 1-6 6-1 7-5. This will be the second meeting between the pair after Haddad Maia defeated Wang 6-3 6-4 at an ITF event in 2021 on a hard court in their only previous match. She may well have the edge once again, despite her less than impressive opening round win. Haddad Maia seems like the type of opponent that would frustrate Wang. The Chinese has a powerful game, but her results this year have been below-par. Haddad Maia’s versatility and persistence gives her the edge in this matchup in my opinion.
Prediction: Haddad Maia in 3
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Camila Osorio vs Marcela Zacarías
Head-to-head: Osorio 1-0 Zacarias
Camila Osorio looks highly likely to make it back-to-back quarterfinals in Mexico when she faces local wild card Marcela Zacarías in the second round. Marcela Zacarias managed to claim a maiden main-draw victory at the WTA tour level when she defeated fellow wild card Emma Navarro 6-1 6-7 6-3. It was a significant win for the Mexican, at 27 years of age, eight years after her first match at this level, but Osorio is building momentum in Mexico. A quarterfinal run in Guadalajara last week was something to build on, as was a 6-3 7-6 opening round win over Magdalena Frech in Monterrey. Osorio is clearly a class above the Mexican wild card and should be winning this match quite comfortably.
Prediction: Osorio in 2
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Sara Sorribes Tormo vs Harmony Tan
Head-to-head: first meeting
Sara Sorribes Tormo and Harmony Tan couldn’t have had more contrasting pathways through the opening round in Monterrey. Sorribes Tormo needed just over three hours to secure a 7-5 6-7 6-1 opening round win over Kamilla Rakhimova. Tan, meanwhile, spent just 43 minutes on court as her opponent Renata Zarazua retired having lost the first seven games of the match. Sorribes Tormo is more experienced at this level and likely a higher calibre player, but her form over the last six months has been mediocre. Tan is steadily improving but is rarely a threat to this type of opponent. It doesn’t look like Tan has the consistent firepower to hit through Sorribes Tormo or the the discipline or fitness to outlast her in a lengthy battle. This looks like a good matchup for the Spaniard.
Prediction: Sorribes Tormo in 2
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Leylah Fernandez vs Zheng Qinwen
Head-to-head: first meeting
Leylah Fernandez made an impressive start to her title defence in Monterrey, cruising past Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 6-2 6-2 and showing little signs of nerves despite this being the first time she is a defending champion at a WTA event. Fernandez only has two wins to her name in 2022, but perhaps Monterrey will give the reining US Open runner-up the momentum she desires.
Zheng Qinwen was also untroubled in her opening round matchup in Monterrey, recording a 6-2 6-3 win over Lucia Bronzetti. Zheng will be playing to reach her second WTA quarterfinal of the season having reached the semifinals at the Melbourne 250-level event in January. Zheng might not be as well-known as Fernandez, but she’s definitely talented and a dangerous player on the rise. Fernandez is the rightful favourite, but it’s hard to get a real read on her level right now off limited form. Still, give Fernandez the benefit of the doubt at an event she clearly enjoys playing at.
Prediction: Fernandez in 3
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