It is time for the WTA’s top-ranked women to headline Day 4 in Indian Wells. Coco Gauff won the US Open during her last trip to a home tournament. The 19-year-old will kick off her campaign in California against France’s Clara Burel. Who do you think will advance?
WTA Indian Wells Day 4 Predictions
Daria Kasatkina vs Oceane Dodin
Head-to-head: first meeting
Dodin had a dream run at the Australian Open (reached the fourth round), which helped push her ranking inside the Top 90. With that confidence, she recovered from a 2-5 deficit in the third set to beat Elina Avanesyan in the first round of Indian Wells. Kasatkina, meanwhile, had a bye for being a seeded player. The Russian was a finalist in Abu Dhabi last month. That result took a lot out of her energy tank because she went on to lose in back-to-back tournaments in Doha and Dubai. But normal service should resume now that Kasatkina has recharged her batteries.
Prediction: Kasatkina in 2
Elise Mertens vs Wang Xinyu
Head-to-head: Wang 1-0 Mertens
This is a rematch from last year. Wang dropped just four games in a first-round rout. You don’t always see Mertens throw in the towel, but her performance was abject, to say the least. A lot had to do with the jetlag because the Belgian was competing in Monterrey 48 hours earlier. She will give a better account of herself this time. But of concern for the World No. 28, Wang is in better form this year and was electric in dismissing Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 6-0 6-4 in her opening match. So, this could be another upset in the making.
Prediction: Wang in 3
Anhelina Kalinina vs Lucia Bronzetti
Head-to-head: Kalinina 2-0 Bronzetti
Anhelina Kalinina had an inauspicious start to the season, losing three matches on the trot on Australian soil. Switching countries in February didn’t help either, although she got into the winner’s column by beating Lucia Bronzetti and Emma Raducanu in Abu Dhabi and Doha, respectively.
So, in the midst of her dismal run, she still defeated the Italian. The problem for Bronzetti here is that Kalinina has turned a corner if her semifinal run in Austin this past month is anything to go by. But expect a seesaw match here as the Ukrainian remains unpredictable.
Prediction: Kalinina in 3
Coco Gauff vs Clara Burel
Head-to-head: first meeting
After a semifinal finish in Melbourne, Coco Gauff massively underperformed in the Middle East. She was knocked out in the second round of the Qatar Open by Katerina Siniakova. And in Dubai, she was outplayed by Anna Kalinskaya in the quarterfinal. Clara Burel cannot be underestimated here. She defeated Gauff’s doubles partner Jessica Pegula at this year’s Australian Open and is motoring in the rankings (currently 47th). Still, Gauff’s incremental progress should enable her to recover from that faltering run last month.
Prediction: Gauff in 2
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
