The Round of 16 matches continue on Day 4 at the WTA 500 in San Diego with four matches on the cards. Donna Vekic will be aiming to go one better than 2022 while it promises to be an explosive encounter between Anna Blinkova and Dayana Yastremska. But who will make it to the quarterfinals?
WTA San Diego Day 4 Predictions
Anna Blinkova vs Dayana Yastremska
Head–to–Head: Blinkova 0 vs 1 Yastremska
Anna Blinkova’s highlight of the season was upsetting Elena Rybakina in the second round of the Australian Open but she’s only managed two wins since then, including a pulsating three-setter against veteran Caroline Wozniacki in the previous round. It remains to be seen if she’ll be fit enough to face Yastremska, who is on a 10-4 win record this season.
There’s little to choose between the two in what promises to be a fiercely contested match partly because of their nationalities. However, Yastremska has shown more consistency this season and will want this more.
Prediction: Yastremska in 3
Donna Vekic vs Marina Stakusic
Head–to–Head: First Meeting
Donna Vekic wobbled in her first match here in almost two years but she found her rhythm to avert an upset against World #872 Katherine Hui in the last round. She needs to be on top of her game against Marina Stakusic who has lost just three of her last twenty-six matches.
The Canadian teenager has nothing to lose and will go all out to continue her run. However, Donna Vekic was a losing finalist here in 2022 and should bring her experience to bear.
Prediction: Vekic in 2
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova vs Xinyu Wang
Head–to–Head: Pavlyuchenkova 1 vs 0 Wang
Xing Wanyu hit 35 winners as she defeated Clara Tauson in the first round and she’ll be confident of replicating her performance in that superb win. Her Russian opponent makes her debut here in San Diego on the back of a respectable 13-5 win-loss record for the season.
The first meeting between two closely ranked players could go either way but Pavlyuchenkova is the more experienced on hard courts and should survive the Chinese challenge.
Prediction: Pavlyuchenkova in 3
Emma Navarro vs Katerina Siniakova
Head–to–Head: Navarro 1 vs 1 Siniakova
Three of the four losses Emma Navarro has encountered this season have been against top #10 players. She’s won an incredible 17 matches, including the title in Hobart, and will be confident she can get ahead on the head-to-head against Katerina Siniakova who is still looking for her first quarterfinal appearance since 2018. Give me the American to wrap this up quickly.
Prediction: Navvaro in 2
Main Photo Credit: Ray Acevedo-USA TODAY Sports
