With the top seed Magda Linette out in the first round, the draw has opened up and many players will now try and seize the opportunity. As always, we here at LWOT will preview and predict every match. Who do you think will win?
WTA Austin Day 3 Predictions
Anastasia Potapova vs Katie Volynets
Head-to-head: first meeting
Potapova, the third seed in Austin, has to be among the favorites for the title. The Russian is on a six-match win streak after she got her second WTA title in Linz earlier this month and allowed Elizabeth Mandlik just two games in her Austin opener. Volynets won’t be an easy out as she showed at the Australian Opener, beating Veronika Kudermetova to reach the third round as a qualifier. The American upset Alison Riske in the first round here. Volynets will be a challenge but I believe Potapova will come out on top with her current form.
Prediction: Potapova in 2
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Varvara Gracheva vs Anna Blinkova
Head-to-head: Gracheva 3-2 Blinkova
A rematch of a Linz first round from two weeks ago that was won by Gracheva. The 22-year-old pulled off an upset in the first round here, eliminating top seed Magda Linette. Gracheva also beat Daria Kasatkina at the Australian Open and pushed Sloane Stephens all the way to a third-set tiebreak last week. Blinkova broke a four-match losing streak in her Austin opener, beating qualifier Ann Li 6-4 6-4. I expect a close match here but with Gracheva’s form, I will be leaning toward her.
Prediction: Gracheva in 3
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Peyton Stearns vs Mirjam Bjorklund
Head-to-head: first meeting
The first Texas player to win the NCAA Women’s Singles National Championship could be set to have her breakout in Austin. Stearns, 17-2 on the year with two ITF titles and another final, outlasted Katie Boulter in the first round, winning in three tiebreaks. Bjorklund beat Alycia Parks in the first round, who is still struggling to find consistency outdoors. The Swede is yet to win back-to-back matches this season and I believe Stearns will continue this trend.
Prediction: Stearns in 2
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Sloane Stephens vs Heather Watson
Head-to-head: Watson 5-3 Stephens
The ninth meeting between these two experienced players. Watson, who has already dropped down to the ITF level twice this season, came through qualifying with wins over Jamie Loeb and Maria Carle before she took out Danka Kovinic in the main draw. Stephens bounced back well from getting double-bageled by Camila Giorgi in Merida last week, beating Taylor Townsend in straight sets. The Brit has an edge in the head-to-head, though she won their first four meetings between 2010 and 2015. Stephens has been getting the better of Watson in recent meetings, beating her in an Indian Wells first round two years ago. I expect Stephens to win.
Prediction: Stephens in 2
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
