16 second-round matches are scheduled on day three at WTA Cincinnati, promising a day packed with action as the world’s best enter the fray. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the schedule, including Aryna Sabalenka vs Marketa Vondrousova. But who will advance?
WTA Cincinnati Day 3 Predictions
Beatriz Haddad Maia vs Maya Joint
Head-to-head: first meeting
Beatriz Haddad Maia has been out of form since the beginning of the grass season, winning consecutive matches in just one of her last five tournaments. Her record here in Cincinnati is even worse, with just one match win in four appearances. On top of that, she has a tough opener against Maya Joint, who has shown a lot of promise this season and is in much better form than the Brazilian. Joint has been the better player on this surface this season, and I predict her to win this.
Prediction: Joint in 3
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Anna Kalinskaya vs Peyton Stearns
Head-to-head: Kalinskaya 1-1 Stearns
Anna Kalinskaya has been fantastic so far at the North American hard-court swing, reaching the final in Washington and then winning two matches in Montreal despite a short turnaround. She should be fresh to make another deep run here, but needs to fend off a stern challenge in the form of Peyton Stearns, who dismantled her the last time these two met. However, that was on clay, and Kalinskaya is in much better form now.
Prediction: Kalinskaya in 3
Marta Kostyuk vs Tatjana Maria
Head-to-Head: Kostyuk 1-0 Maria
These two met in Toronto last year, where Marta Kostyuk lost just two games. However, her recent retirement against Elena Rybakina due to a wrist injury casts doubt over her fitness, and Tatjana Maria will look to take advantage if the Ukrainian is not 100%. Maria was solid in her first-round win, where she served eight aces. The outcome of this match depends on Kostyuk’s fitness, but if she is not compromised, she will win this.
Prediction: Kostyuk in 3
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Elena Rybakina vs Renata Zarazua
Head-to-head: first meeting
Elena Rybakina must be disappointed after suffering a tough loss against Victoria Mboko in the semifinal of the WTA Montreal. Rybakina had numerous opportunities to win the match, but this has been the type of season for her. However, that run helped her move two places in the rankings, and she is now a top ten player. Rybakina doesn’t have any points to defend here and can improve her rankings further with a good run. Renata Zarazua doesn’t have the game to trouble the Kazakh player, relying primarily on her defense. Rybakina will need to have a bad day to lose this.
Prediction: Rybakina in 2
Main photo credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
