There are several outstanding WTA matchups on the second day of the Masters 1000 event in Madrid. Four of these contests are predicted in this article. We at LWOT also predict the rest of the day’s WTA action in Madrid, including Paula Badosa vs Jessica Bouzas Maneiro and Sloane Stephens vs Martina Trevisan. Which players do you think will progress to the next round?
WTA Madrid Day 2 Predictions
Harriet Dart vs Cristina Bucsa
Head-to-head: Dart 1-1 Bucsa
Harriet Dart won two very tough three-set battles in qualifying to reach this stage. It may be tough for the Briton to recover from those exertions after not getting a day’s rest. Cristina Bucsa is one of the Spanish players that does not usually play her best tennis on clay. Nonetheless, she is likely to have too much for Dart. Bucsa is still the more natural player on the dirt and her ability to extend the rallies is a bad matchup for Dart after her two long matches.
Prediction: Bucsa in 2
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Hailey Baptiste vs Daria Saville
Head-to-head: first meeting
Daria Saville is certainly the more natural clay-court player of these two. That is underlined by being a former quarterfinalist in Madrid. But there are two sources of optimism for Hailey Baptiste. Saville has lost in the opening round on her last three visits to Madrid, and the faster clay at the event suits Baptiste’s big-hitting style better than other clay-court tournaments. The Australian may need to withstand some pressure from Baptiste to prevail. Overall, Saville is the favourite to do that, but she may need a third set to get it done.
Prediction: Saville in 3
Clara Burel vs Olga Danilovic
Head-to-head: Burel 2-0 Danilovic
Clara Burel was not at her best last week in Rouen, where she lost in the second-round to Elena-Gabriela Ruse. She could be the victim of an upset if that is the case again. Olga Danilovic is a true clay-court specialist, with all her finals at WTA and ITF level coming on the dirt. At her best, Burel is a very good player on clay and should prevail. But it is difficult to know what to expect from her at the moment.
Prediction: Burel in 3
Donna Vekic vs Laura Siegemund
Head-to-head: first meeting
Much of this match is likely to be Donna Vekic’s attack vs Laura Siegemund’s defense. The German is very adept at frustrating her opponents on clay with her consistency and use of different spins. That style was one Vekic struggled against last week in Stuttgart against Marketa Vondrousova. Siegemund played well in the qualifying stage in Madrid and could pull off an upset against the Croat, who seemed to be lacking confidence in Stuttgart.
Prediction: Siegemund in 3
