The schedule for Day 3 at the 2022 WTA Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo is extremely stacked. Caroline Garcia takes on Shuai Zhang, while Elena Rybakina and Liudmila Samsonova will undoubtedly destroy the balls with their hard-hitting. Who will take the blockbuster between top seed Paula Badosa and Qinwen Zheng? Who do you think will advance?
WTA Tokyo Day 3 Predictions
Elise Mertens vs Claire Liu
Head-to-head: First meeting
Both women performed very well in the opening round–Elise Mertens gave Qiang Wang just three games, while Claire Liu took out Alison Riske with relative ease. It’s going to be a very different matchup for the American, but it has to be noted that Mertens hasn’t been quite at her ultra-consistent best most of the season. The talented 22-year-old should have her chances in this one.
Prediction: Liu in 3
Garbine Muguruza vs Despina Papamichail
Head-to-head: First meeting
Despina Papamichail has already won three matches here, while Garbine Muguruza is yet to set foot on the court. The rise in the quality of competition for the Greek will be extremely steep. While being familiar with the courts is definitely an asset, it feels like the talent edge in this one should be too much. It’s a great draw for Muguruza, who played her best tennis in a while at the US Open.
Prediction: Muguruza in 2
Shuai Zhang vs Caroline Garcia
Head-to-head: 2-2
Whether Caroline Garcia will keep up her form is one of the questions we’re all dying to get an answer to. The 28-year-old has enjoyed a lot of success in Asia before and has the dominant serve/return game to blast through Shuai Zhang’s flat hitting. She couldn’t hold her nerves in the US Open semifinal but if the loss won’t derail her, this match should depend on the quality of her execution.
Prediction: Garcia in 3
Elena Rybakina vs Liudmila Samsonova
Head-to-head: Samsonova 1-0
It will be a pretty short turnaround for Elena Rybakina, who was the runner-up to Katerina Siniakova at Portoroz. The Wimbledon champion is still looking a bit fragile. Liudmila Samsonova hasn’t played since the US Open and it feels like she’ll be better prepared physically for this one. Both love to attack and have all-or-nothing playstyles, so expect fireworks.
Prediction: Samsonova in 3
Paula Badosa vs Qinwen Zheng
Head-to-head: First meeting
It’s a fantastic Day 3 schedule, but this might be the icing on the cake. Paula Badosa has only won three matches in her last four events and will be looking to rebuild her form here. The draw gods weren’t kind though, giving her the incredibly talented Qinwen Zheng. If you’re playing against someone as good as the 19-year-old, getting a bye in the opening round might actually come back to bite you.
Prediction: Zheng in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
