The WTA 250 tournament in Osaka has featured some big upsets (already into the quarterfinals are two qualifiers and a lucky loser), but the part of the draw playing on Thursday has its seeds intact for now. No. 3 Elise Mertens will take on Kimberly Birrell, while No. 5 Elina Avanesyan faces wildcard Sara Saito in the last singles match of the day. Who do you think will make the last-eight stage?
WTA Osaka Day 4 Predictions
Ana Bogdan vs Marie Bouzkova
Head-to-head: Bogdan 2-0
Despite making the final in Cluj-Napoca at the beginning of the year, Ana Bogdan has now fallen out of the Top 100. But it seems like the Romanian can still be much more dangerous than that on her day and she’s barely been losing games this event so far. Marie Bouzkova’s level this season has been just as erratic with two big results mixed up with many opening losses. The Czech won’t go into this matchup like Veronika Kudermetova did though, she won’t try to blast Bogdan off the court. Maybe she’s still a bit more likely to find the winning recipe.
Prediction: Bouzkova in 3
Diane Parry vs Greet Minnen
Head-to-head: Minnen 1-0
Greet Minnen handed Diane Parry a heavy defeat in Guangzhou last year, now she’ll try to repeat in another event of the Asian swing. The Belgian remains an underrated ball-striker and can be so relentless if you allow her to look for chances on the inside-out forehand. It should be fun to watch Parry tackle that with her variety and the former junior No. 1 certainly has a shot here. But it’s tough not to consider that Guangzhou meeting in pretty similar conditions relevant, so the coin flip edge goes to Minnen.
Prediction: Minnen in 3
Sara Saito vs Elina Avanesyan
Head-to-head: First meeting
Sara Saito turned 18 this month and giving Jessica Bouzas Maneiro just five games was a very impressive main tour debut. The former junior No. 2 has the tools to trouble Elina Avanesyan as well, but it’s a matchup that requires plenty of the type of patience that usually only comes with experience. After all, the Armenian uses a wide repertoire of spins and angles in her baseline game, allowing her to keep the ball uncomfortable for the opponents. She punished the defending champion Ashlyn Krueger and Saito might not be ready for it either.
Prediction: Avanesyan in 3
Elise Mertens vs Kimberly Birrell
Head-to-head: First meeting
Elise Mertens usually picks up one title a year and she’s still waiting for her first in 2024. Could it happen in Osaka? The Belgian seems to be the tournament favorite, especially as the withdrawals of Magdalena Frech and Leylah Fernandez left her as the highest-ranked player in the field. So far she proved her quality by demolishing Mai Hontama in the opening round. Kimberly Birrell should make it a bit more tricky, but she’s still a player of the caliber that Mertens usually handles comfortably.
Prediction: Mertens in 2
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
