There was an unexpected delay due to a lighting malfunction on Day 3 of the WTA Palermo Open. Fortunately, the stoppage only lasted an hour, meaning four Round of 16 contests are scheduled for Day 3. This includes last year’s French Open runner-up Karolina Muchova’s meeting with the talented Noma Noha Akugue. As always, we at LWOT give our predictions and analysis for all the matches. But which players do you think will progress to the quarterfinals?
WTA Palermo Day 3 Predictions
Arantxa Rus vs Irina-Camelia Begu
Head-to-head: Begu 1-0 Rus
These two won in very different styles in the previous round. Rus battled to a tough three-set victory against home favourite Martina Trevisan, while Begu had an incredible 6-0 6-0 triumph against Marina Bassols Ribera. Despite the manner of Begu’s previous win, Rus is backed to come through this match. The Dutchwoman is much better equipped to soak up pressure with her athleticism and heavy topspin forehand. That should give her the edge, but Begu could claim a set.
Prediction: Rus in 3
Diane Parry vs Jil Teichmann
Head-to-head: First meeting
Parry will need to perform much better than the previous round against Teichmann. The Frenchwoman deserves credit for battling from a set down against Olivia Gadecki, but she was far below her best. Teichmann, who easily won her opening round match, also gets an extra day’s rest compared to her opponent. Parry’s game is the better of the two on clay when it is firing. Although she struggled in the first round, Parry may be less rusty in this matchup, which could make the difference.
Prediction: Parry in 2
Astra Tomljanovic vs Astra Sharma
Head-to-head: First meeting
Tomljanovic’s triumph against Mayar Sherif was extremely impressive. Excluding the French Open, the Egyptian had reached the final of her previous four clay court events. The former Wimbledon quarterfinalist effectively disarmed Sherif’s forehand. However, Sharma is tipped to defeat her compatriot. She has a powerful serve, which is more likely to trouble Tomljanovic, whose defense in the rallies is better than on return. That will put her under a lot of pressure in her service games.
prediction: Sharma in 2
Karolina Muchova vs Noma Noha Akugue
Head-to-head: First meeting
Muchova won an incredible tiebreak, 16-14, against Katarzyna Kawa before the match became more comfortable in the second set. Akugue showed her immense talent during her run to the final in Hamburg during last year’s post-Wimbledon clay court season. That shows Muchova needs to be on her game to ensure victory. Overall, it is tough to trust Akugue to be consistent enough to stay with Muchova since she has struggled in the 12 months since her run in Hamburg.
Prediction: Muchova in 2
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
