The WTA Hobart International event continues. We’ve already seen Sloane Stephens, Elise Mertens, Alize Cornet and Magda Linette fall by the wayside. Will day three bring more upsets or will we see our seeded players moving into the quarterfinals? As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the slate, including Anna Blinkova vs Marie Bouzkova. But who will reach the quarterfinals?
WTA Hobart Day 3 Predictions
Jasmine Paolini vs Elisabetta Cocciaretto
Head-to-head: Paolini 2-1 Cocciaretto
Jasmine Paolini and Elisabetta Cocciaretto have played three matches already and all three have been very close. This is because the compatriots possess similar styles of play, with their solid groundstrokes making up for a lack of a massive serve. Both able to inject a surprising amount of pace mid-rally. Pace injection is where Cocciaretto slightly outshines Paolini, however, with the flatter set of shots of the pair. Going by her performance against Cornet, she should be able to find a way through Paolini’s baseline wall.
Prediction: Cocciaretto in 3
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Lauren Davis vs Ysaline Bonaventure
Head-to-head: Davis 1-0 Bonaventure
The shortest player in the top 100 may have dispatched Stephens easily but this was more to do with Stephens’ performance than Lauren Davis’. Nonetheless, the American can bring a sturdy level to the court. It’s unlikely to be sturdy enough however as Ysaline Bonaventure continues a run of form that’s seen her soar her into the top 100 for the first time in her career. She’s won 21 of her last 27 matches, playing with enough assured confidence in her bulldozing lefty game to make it hard to see any outcome other than a Bonaventure win. She should have too much in the tank for Davis.
Prediction: Bonaventure in 2
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Wang Xinyu vs Alison Van Uytvanck
Head-to-head: first meeting
Alison Van Uytvanck getting the better of Linette in the previous round at the WTA Hobart International was quite the surprise. From seemingly nowhere at all, she dispatched a player with an incredibly strong track record of late. Perhaps coming through qualifying benefitted the Belgian, who has always been a relatively streak player. Wang Xinyu hasn’t been in fine form herself and a retirement last week in Auckland in the doubles slightly rings alarm bells. Van Uytvanck also hits a bigger ball out of the two so should thrive in these conditions. Form, match-up, health–all fall the way of Van Uytvanck. Expect her to advance a winner in straight sets.
Prediction: Van Uytvanck in 2
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Anhelina Kalinina vs Tatjana Maria
Head-to-head: first meeting
Tatjana Maria continues her inspiring story. The mother of two broke back into the top 100 at the end of last year (even without her Wimbledon semifinal points awarded) and, after some time off, kicked off her Hobart campaign with a comfortable win over Talia Gibson. Off of grass however, there’s a limit to the calibre of player she can defeat–Anhelina Kalinina should surpass that calibre. The Ukranian’s open-stance backhand is made for digging out difficult slices and the world #40 dispatched Rebecca Marino in startling fashion in the first-round. Maria will have her swan-song yet but it won’t be here in Hobart.
Prediction: Kalinina in 2
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