The remaining second-round matches at the WTA Bogota will be completed on Thursday. Defending champion Camila Osorio will face big-serving Emina Bektas for a spot in the quarterfinals. Who will advance?
WTA Bogota Day 4 Predictions
Tatjana Maria vs Hanna Chang
Head-to-head: first meeting
Maria is the only non-South American to win this tournament multiple times. Her two-year reign came to a half last season when she lost to eventual champion Osorio. The German is making her 12th main draw appearance in Bogota and kicked off her campaign with a three-and-a-half-hour marathon win over Chloe Paquet. She won’t be facing a veteran for a spot in the quarterfinal after Hanna Chang defeated 38-year-old Varvara Lepchenko. But that won’t be an issue as Maria thrives at altitude, thanks to her exceptional mastery of this court.
Prediction: Maria in 2
Cristina Bucsa vs Lea Boskovic
Head-to-head: Bucsa 1-0 Boskovic
Bucsa won a rollercoaster match against Leonie Kung 6-1 6-7 6-1. The two players accounted for 17 double faults in the contest, but the Spaniard saved five of eight breakpoints on her serve. That statistic proved crucial as Bucsa finished the match strongly. Boskovic will be eyeing her second WTA quarterfinal after fending off Irina Bara. The Croatian has a wretched record against Top 100 players, with just one win from nine matches. Bucsa is also the steadier competitor who is very comfortable in longer exchanges, something that Boskovic doesn’t do too well.
Prediction: Bucsa in 2
Iva Jovic vs Julia Riera
Head-to-head: first meeting
Jovic made light work of Alycia Parks in the first round to record her first-ever WTA main draw win on clay. Riera, for her part, secured her progress after Francesca Jones collapsed on the court down 3-5 in the decider and had to retire. This will be a competitive match. Jovic has made tremendous progress in the past few months to be considered a future star. Still, Riera is just more accustomed to competing with regularity on clay and will be tough to beat.
Prediction: Riera in 3
Camila Osorio vs Emina Bektas
Head-to-head: Bektas 2-0 Osorio
Osorio could become only the second player to win the WTA Bogota three times. Only one player who has won this tournament surpassed that number in the past. That is Colombia’s Fabiola Zuluaga. Osorio can try to get closer to her retired compatriot’s record haul of four titles, and she is among the favorites this week. Emina Bektas was untested in her opening win over home wild card Torres Murcia. But up against Colombia’s top-ranked player, her limitations on this surface will be exposed.
Prediction: Osorio in 2
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
