Third round matches are scheduled on Day 4 of the WTA Credit One Charleston Open. The lineup is stacked with great matches as 9 of the top 10 seeds are still in the draw and going strong. This article features #2 seed Madison Keys and #3 seed Qinwen Zheng. As always, we at LWOT will offer predictions for all the third-round matches. But who will advance to the next round?
WTA Charleston Day 4 Predictions
Daria Kasatkina vs Sofia Kenin
Head-to-Head: Kasatkina 3-3 Kenin
Daria Kasatkina played a solid match in the second round to get her first win as an Australian. Kasatkina has an incredible record at the Charleston Open and has never lost before the quarterfinals. Sofia Kenin will look to break that record as she comes into this match full of confidence after upsetting Belinda Bencic in straight sets. She will look to take revenge on Kasatkina for her loss in Indian Wells. Kasatkina is the more solid player, but Kenin has the weapons to beat her. The American can be very unpredictable, but I am leaning towards her on this one.
Prediction: Kenin in 3
Danielle Collins vs Jelena Ostapenko
Head-to-Head: Collins 2-1 Ostapenko
Defending champion Danielle Collins easily won her opening match and now faces a very stern test against Jelena Ostapenko. Collins isn’t in the same form as she was at this time last year and has been more vulnerable. However, she still hasn’t had a bad loss this season, and Ostapenko will have to play her best tennis to defeat the American. This match will not have many long rallies, but some incredible ball striking by both players. I am leaning slightly towards Collins based on both players’ recent form.
Prediction: Collins in 3
Qinwen Zheng vs Elise Mertens
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Qinwen Zheng proved to be too good for Maria Sakkari and is into the third round of the Charleston Open for the first time. Zheng is back to playing her best tennis and would be tough for anyone to stop this week. Elise Mertens reached the quarterfinals last year, where she lost to the eventual champion Danielle Collins. She will need to produce a great performance to make it back-to-back quarterfinals. I won’t be surprised if she wins a set, but I can’t see her winning.
Prediction: Zheng in 3
Madison Keys vs Anna Kalinskaya
Head-to-Head: Keys 1-0 Kalinskaya
2019 champion Madison Keys is back to winning ways after a disappointing loss in Miami. Keys loves playing on the green clay of the Charleston Open, and it will take some performance to defeat her this week. Anna Kalinskaya is undoubtedly capable of delivering a high level and appears to be returning to her best form. The Russian player troubled Jessica Pegula in Miami recently, and I expect her to produce another strong fight against Keys. However, I would still back the top seed to get it done eventually.
Prediction: Keys in 3
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images
