The WTA clay court season has moved to Stuttgart, Germany, for the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix 500-level event. Some of the tour’s best have flocked to Stuttgart to compete in this 32-woman draw, including eight of the Top 10 players in the world. World No. 1 Iga Swiatek takes the court on Day 4 against Chinese phenom Qinwen Zheng. We at LWOT have the preview and prediction for that match and all other happenings around the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. But who will advance?
WTA Stuttgart Day 4 Predictions
Caroline Garcia vs Tatjana Maria
Head-to-Head: Garcia 2-0 Maria
World No. 5 Caroline Garcia squares off against veteran Tatjana Maria in Round 2 in Stuttgart. Garcia has always favored the clay as her favorite surface and is poised for a strong clay-court season. The 35-year-old Maria is a strong clay court player in her own right and has won her last seven matches. Maria plays with a methodical pace and consistency that bothers even the world’s best. In this match, expect a lot of drawn-out exchanges with each player being very conservative on when to pick their spots to attack. Maria will have the support of the home crowd, but I see Garcia’s power proving to be too much in the end.
Prediction: Garcia in 3
Paula Badosa vs Cristina Bucsa
Head-to-Head: Badosa 2-0 Bucsa
Spaniards Paula Badosa and Cristina Bucsa will square off with a spot in the Stuttgart quarterfinals on the line. This will be their first meeting in four years. Badosa has had a much better career thus far, but Bucsa can hold her own on the clay. She advanced through two qualifying rounds this week and is 4-1 on the clay this season. Badosa is coming off a strong run to the Charleston quarterfinals and will look to regain her spot in the top 20 during the clay season. In this match, I expect Badosa to overwhelm Bucsa from the baseline.
Prediction: Badosa in 2
Iga Swiatek vs Qinwen Zheng
Head-to-Head: Swiatek 2-0 Zheng
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek will play her first clay match of the season on Thursday. She went 18-1 on the clay last year, including raising the trophy at this event. Swiatek starts her title defense against 20-year-old Qinwen Zheng. The Chinese phenom is up No. 25 in the world and bested Alycia Parks 6-4 6-4 in Round 1. Zheng does not have much WTA experience on the clay, but she has found success in the matches she has played. Zheng has a very bright future in this sport, but I do not believe she will be any match for Swiatek on the clay.
Prediction: Swiatek in 2
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane USAToday
