The WTA event this week in Guangzhou seems to present a great opportunity for an unheralded player to win a rare title at this level, with a field featuring no one ranked higher than #48. As such, Day 3 will feature matchups between relatively ranked players, but those matches should in general be pretty tight, with every player giving it their all to make a strong run here.
WTA Guangzhou Day 3 Predictions
Lucia Bronzetti vs Jaqueline Cristian
Head-to-head: Cristian 3-0 Bronzetti
On paper, this is an extremely even matchup between two players of a very similar level, but the reality is that all their previous matchups ended in straight set wins for Cristian. That said, this will be their first meeting on a hard court, so the dynamics might well be different and you would have to imagine that Bronzetti will have their day in this matchup at some point.
Prediction: Bronzetti in 3
Jessica Bouzas Maneiro vs Han Shi
Head-to-head: first meeting
On paper, this should be the most one sided matchup of the day, what with such a large difference in ranking and even form. The only advantage Shi has in theory is home advantage and she did player better in the first round here than she had been recently. That said, Bouzas Maneiro should have a clear edge here and make it to the next round.
Prediction: Bouzas Maneiro in 2
Xiyu Wang vs Sijia Wei
Head-to-head: Wang 1-0 Wei
This all-Chinese matchup should be a quite interesting one. Both players have been somewhat struggling recently, but actually played quite well in the first round and won in straight sets. Their previous matchup ended in an easy Wang win, but Wei was only 15 at the time so it should be a much different story now and it could well go the distance.
Prediction: Wang in 3
Diane Parry vs Olga Danilovic
Head-to-head: first meeting
On paper, this should be the best match of the day, both in terms of ranking of the players and how well they have been performing lately, with both having great results recently and a strong first round performance here. It should be a highly competitive affair decided by some key points here and there, where whoever holds their nerve better will come through.
Prediction: Danilovic in 3
Main Photo Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
