Second round matchups commence on Wednesday, Day 3 at the WTA National Bank Open (formerly known as the Rogers Cup) in Toronto. A blockbuster line-up is set for day 3 of the WTA 1000 level event. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the schedule, including Iga Swiatek vs Ajla Tomljanovic, Belinda Bencic vs Serena Williams and Paula Badosa vs Yulia Putintseva. Who will advance to the third round?
WTA Toronto Day 3 Predictions
Coco Gauff vs Elena Rybakina
H2H: First meeting.
Elena Rybakina’s form has been a little shaky since claiming a maiden Grand Slam title at Wimbledon, that was probably to be expected. Nevertheless, Rybakina secured her first victory since Wimbledon, albeit in unconvincing fashion as she outlasted Marie Bouzkova 7-5 6-7 6-1 in her Toronto opener. Cori Gauff cruised through the opening round in Toronto with a 6-1 6-3 win over Madison Brengle in what was a comfortable matchup for the 18-year-old.
I will side with Gauff here, the courts in Toronto are quite slow, that will favour Gauff in this matchup. Rybakina has been quite inconsistent in her last couple of matches and has shown she can struggle against strong defensive players like Gauff.
Prediction: Gauff in 3
Aryna Sabalenka vs Sara Sorribes Tormo
H2H: Sabalenka 2-0
Aryna Sabalenka’s recent form is unconvincing to say the least. Sabalenka hit 43 double faults in total across her two matches in San Jose last week, a huge issue for the Belarusian. The sixth seeded Sabalenka received a bye through the opening round in Toronto, whilst her second round opponent Sara Sorribes Tormo defeated Claire Liu 7-6 2-6 7-6 in a match lasting over three and a half hours. Sabalenka has the firepower to blast Sorribes Tormo off the court, however her inconsistent level will give the solid Spaniard a chance in these conditions. An upset is a real possibility here with Sorribes Tormo very much used to the conditions after her epic first round win.
Prediction: Sorribes Tormo in 3
Leylah Fernandez vs Beatriz Haddad Maia
H2H: Fernandez 1-0.
Leylah Fernandez was forced to work much harder than expected in the opening round where she defeated Storm Sanders 6-4 6-7 6-3. Beatriz Haddad Maia also went the distance as she got the better of Martina Trevisan 6-2 2-6 6-2. Fernandez defeated Haddad Maia 6-1 6-4 in Monterrey earlier this year in their only previous meeting. Haddad Maia has been in much better form since that match and has certainly been the more impressive of the two over the last few months. Fernandez may rise to the occasion at home, otherwise based on form Haddad Maia wins in this matchup. Tough to call, I’m leaning towards the Brazilian.
Prediction: Haddad Maia in 3
Ons Jabeur vs Qinwen Zheng
H2H: First meeting.
Ons Jabeur’s first tournament since her Wimbledon runner-up finish didn’t go to plan as she was upset by Veronika Kudermetova in straight sets at the quarterfinal stage in San Jose last week. The Tunisian will be hopping for a better week in Toronto where she received an opening round bye as the fish seed in the draw. Qinwen Zheng narrowly escaped a first round exit in Toronto as she defeated Rebecca Marino 3-6 7-6 6-4. Zheng has made huge leaps forward over the last year but is still a work in progress. Jabeur is the type of player that can expose the holes in Zheng’s game. Expect Jabeur to be far too solid as Zheng struggles to deal with the Tunisian’s versatility in the first meeting between the pair.
Prediction: Jabeur in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
