This year’s WTA Guadalajara Open has made headlines for a number of players withdrawing. This includes Iga Swiatek and defending champion Jessica Pegula. But there are still several top players in the draw. Ons Jabeur and Victoria Azarenka are two such examples, and both their matches are predicted in this article. We at LWOT also have an article predicting other matches on the third day in Guadalajara- including Caroline Garcia vs Aliaksandra Sasnovich.
WTA Guadalajara Day 3 Predictions
Camila Giorgi vs Cristina Bucsa
Head-to-head: First meeting
Giorgi and Bucsa are close in the rankings, at #56 and #62. Their recent trajectories have been very different though. Bucsa is near her career-best ranking, while her experienced Italian opponent is far from the level she was at during her prime. Nonetheless, expect Giorgi to have the edge here. She has an aggressive baseline game, while Bucsa uses more variety. The Spaniard could get some joy using heavy topspin in the high-altitude conditions in Mexico. But overall the more aggressive game of Giorgi is likely to be better suited to the courts at the WTA Guadalajara Open.
Prediction: Giorgi in 3
Marta Kostyuk vs Jelena Ostapenko
Head-to-head: First meeting
Ostapenko is usually one of the hardest players to predict in tennis, because of how wildly her level can fluctuate during a match. But I do think the woman who stunned Iga Swiatek at this year’s US Open is a big favourite here. Kostyuk has caused upsets against Maria Sakkari and Caroline Garcia. She is not to be underestimated. However, the fast conditions at the WTA Guadalajara Open will add pace to Ostapenko’s already heavy groundstrokes. Kostyuk is a player who usually likes time on her groundstrokes, meaning she is at an extra disadvantage in this matchup.
Prediction: Ostapenko in 2
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Victoria Azarenka vs Dayana Yastremska
Head-to-head: Azarenka 1-1 Yastremska
Yastremska is one of the players who entered the draw due to the high number of withdrawals. She got a valuable win in the opening round, and has been close to the Top 20 in the past. But I do not think an upset is likely. Azarenka has been inconsistent throughout much of the season, but her current level is far above the Ukrainian’s, who sits outside the Top 100. Yastremska’s previous win against Azarenka came during her prime in 2019. She needs to recapture that level to have a chance, but it is unlikely.
Prediction: Azarenka in 2
Ons Jabeur vs Alycia Parks
Head-to-head: Jabeur 2-0 Parks
I have feared since the US Open that Jabeur’s season might peter out. This is due to the lingering disappointment that her dream of winning a Grand Slam is officially over for 2023. Her loss in the round of 16 in San Diego to Anastasia Potapova did nothing to allay my fears. Parks beat Lauren Davis for the second time in the space of five weeks to reach this stage. However, the American has not won any other main draw matches in the last month apart from those triumphs against Davis. I think Jabeur will have enough against an opponent also not in the best form, but without being at her best.
Prediction: Jabeur in 3
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey – USA TODAY Sports
