Day 3 of the 2023 WTA Livesport Prague Open has five singles matches on the schedule – half of the second-round clashes and one first round that had to be postponed from Tuesday (Barbora Strycova vs Ankita Raina). Here, we’ll focus on the encounters from the next stage of the event. Who do you think will make the quarterfinals?
WTA Prague Day 3 Predictions
Jaqueline Cristian vs Emiliana Arango
Head-to-head: Cristian 1-0
Both players even getting to this round is already a bit of a surprise. Emiliana Arango won a main tour match outside of her home WTA 250 in Bogota for the very first time, while Jaqueline Cristian kicked out the top seed and defending champion, Marie Bouzkova. The Romanian was hitting her backhand so well in that match and keeping that level should help her keep going. She is still a very talented prospect after all, it’s just that her progress slowed down a bit with the injuries in 2022.
Prediction: Cristian in 2
Nao Hibino vs Viktoria Hruncakova
Head-to-head: First meeting
Viktoria Hruncakova getting a day of rest after that thriller with Xinyu Wang should help her out as the Slovak’s fitness is always a question mark these days. She’s still a great ball-striker though and has so much ace potential with her trademark delivery out wide on both sides of the court. Nao Hibino is here as a lucky loser and while she did take out Sara Errani in the first round, Hruncakova is a completely different challenge, both stylistically and in terms of quality on this surface.
Prediction: Hruncakova in 2
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Yue Yuan vs Tereza Martincova
Head-to-head: First meeting
Tereza Martincova was the runner-up at this event in 2021, but she had to battle hard in her opener against Gabriela Knutson here. Things might not be getting all that easier. Yue Yuan has been playing a bit better than her results suggest of late and has some surprising shotmaking potential. The Chinese is due a bigger result if she keeps hitting this well. Martincova is a tough out at home though, so this match looks very close.
Prediction: Yuan in 3
Jule Niemeier vs Kateryna Baindl
Head-to-head: First meeting
Jule Niemeier was actually 0-8 on outdoor hard courts this year before her match with Heather Watson here, but she managed to blow the Brit off the court. You never know what you’re going to get with the 23-year-old. Kateryna Baindl is coming off a runner-up appearance in Budapest and seems to be flying high on confidence at the moment. Niemeier has the upside to win this match, but she’ll need to keep playing her best stuff.
Prediction: Niemeier in 3
Main Photo Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports
