{"id":40609,"date":"2021-08-19T04:38:58","date_gmt":"2021-08-19T08:38:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/?p=40609"},"modified":"2021-08-19T04:38:58","modified_gmt":"2021-08-19T08:38:58","slug":"wta-cincinnati-open-day-4-predictions-barty-azarenka","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/2021\/08\/19\/wta-cincinnati-open-day-4-predictions-barty-azarenka\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00a0WTA Cincinnati Day 4 Predictions Including Ashleigh Barty vs Victoria Azarenka"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>There are plenty of high caliber matches in store on day four at the WTA Cincinnati Open. With three of the top seeds leaving after today\u2019s matches, it\u2019s an open opportunity for anyone to claim the title in Ohio. We here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the schedule, including <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/2021\/08\/19\/wta-cincinnati-day-4-predictions-osaka-teichmann\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Jil Teichmann vs Naomi Osaka<\/a>. But who will reach the quarterfinals?<\/p>\n<h2><strong>WTA Cincinnati Day 4 Predictions<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h4><strong>Ashleigh Barty vs Victoria Azarenka<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><strong>Head-to-head: <\/strong>Barty 2-1 Azarenka<\/p>\n<p>Ashleigh Barty is on the hunt for her second WTA 1000 title of the year. And, it\u2019s been an impressive year for the world #1, lifting the trophy at four tournaments so far. Quite impressive considering she\u2019s only played 11 tournaments. Consider the Tokyo Olympics an anomaly \u2013 Barty has been in impressive form.<\/p>\n<p>Few saw Victoria Azarenka reaching the upper echelons of the game following the birth of her son. But, she continues to regain form, clearly demonstrating why she held the World #1 position. Versatility, a variety of shots and the ability to turn defense to offense lightening quick are a potent mix.<\/p>\n<p>This is undoubtedly the popcorn match of the day. Two of the Tour\u2019s best will square off to secure a spot in the Round of 16. This one should go the distance, but I give a slight edge to Barty who has the higher tennis IQ.<\/p>\n<p><em>Prediction: Barty in 3<br \/>\n<a id=\"jMFA9oNgRqhVIech3hwiVw\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.co.uk\/detail\/1334904028\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'jMFA9oNgRqhVIech3hwiVw',sig:'wp0I7xk2VUt4W8E0uWKZ-KJJuFky-lVsaxJdF2eSX1Q=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'1334904028',caption: true ,tld:'co.uk',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/em><\/p>\n<h4><strong>Angelique Kerber vs Jelena Ostapenko<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><strong>Head-to-head: <\/strong>Kerber 1-1 Ostapenko<\/p>\n<p>Jelena Ostapenko will square off against Angelique Kerber, looking to build some momentum before the US Open. Clay is really the Latvian\u2019s best surface. However, she impressed in Eastbourne, winning her first title on grass in June. When the 24-year-old is hitting her marks, her power from the ground can create problems for most opponents. Yet, it\u2019s not always certain she can find that range. Her gung-ho style can see her rail off a string of winners, or a string of unforced errors. Of late, she\u2019s been taming that all-or-nothing style and playing with a bit more margin. But, it\u2019s still high risk groundstrokes that can get Ostapenko into trouble.<\/p>\n<p>Angelique Kerber will bombard Ostapenko with more shots that she\u2019ll care to return. The German can chase down so many balls, forcing Ostapenko to find winners. Kerber\u2019s serve is the true weakness of her game. And given a chance, Ostapenko will punish those shaky deliveries. If Ostapenko is on, she\u2019ll run away with this one.<\/p>\n<p><em>Prediction: Ostapenko in 2<br \/>\n<a id=\"xw1WT4NxQ7VycKMzoNOpeA\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.co.uk\/detail\/1334883055\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'xw1WT4NxQ7VycKMzoNOpeA',sig:'6ZVHBVqX-Obo9Bmgp4pOcnyi3CcfFufHnXgORaQZW_Q=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'1334883055',caption: true ,tld:'co.uk',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/em><\/p>\n<h4><strong>Karolina Pliskova vs Jessica Pegula<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><strong>Head-to-head: <\/strong>Pliskova 0-4 Pegula<\/p>\n<p>Certainly the head to head tilts in Jessica Pegula\u2019s favor \u2013 a stat that should give Karolina Pliskova pause. Add to that the high level at which the American has been playing. Even when it looks like she\u2019s down and out, Pegula finds a way to win. Her strategic style can dismantle an opponent. It\u2019s uncanny that she can find the Achilles heal and expose it. Given the second round walkover against Halep was a much needed break for the World #30. After her deep run in Canada, I\u2019m sure the reserves were low. With a day off, we should see a fresh Pegula, ready for the round of 16.<\/p>\n<p><em>Prediction: Pegula in 3<br \/>\n<a id=\"O4Ugv29qQQlkr44b_qvyUQ\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.co.uk\/detail\/1234682478\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'O4Ugv29qQQlkr44b_qvyUQ',sig:'j334wpKlJYwc0RmTT11PoGo09PacLwy06Y8nNQDXp3Y=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'1234682478',caption: true ,tld:'co.uk',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/em><\/p>\n<h4><strong>Karolina Muchova vs Belinda Bencic<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><strong>Head-to-head: <\/strong>first meeting<\/p>\n<p>In her first tournament since her incredible Tokyo Olympics results, Belinda Bencic has started out strong at the WTA Cincinnati Open, beating Marketa Vondrousova and Shelby Rogers in straight sets to reach the third round. \u00a0The world #11 has been in good form and has the confidence to match. Karolina Muchova should not be underestimated &#8211; she has made a Grand Slam semifinal this year after all &#8211; but I see little standing in the way of a deep run for the Swiss.<\/p>\n<p><em>Prediction: Bencic in 2<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Main photo:<br \/>\n<a id=\"uVPxyEudTYxMzhaoQEo07Q\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.co.uk\/detail\/1234595450\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'uVPxyEudTYxMzhaoQEo07Q',sig:'Y-bELAmrSFdpjSLi3lVViix3rDQMjiv-wPX97UmNkpc=',w:'594px',h:'424px',items:'1234595450',caption: true ,tld:'co.uk',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There are plenty of high caliber matches in store on day four at the WTA Cincinnati Open. With three of the top seeds leaving after today\u2019s matches, it\u2019s an open opportunity for anyone to claim the title in Ohio. We here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the schedule, including [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1838,"featured_media":40612,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[69],"tags":[24,15569,547,15571,266,15465,473,15564,3535,15652,3716,15527,147,15562,2373,2369,393,15650,1718,16621],"class_list":["post-40609","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-predictions","tag-angelique-kerber","tag-angelique-kerber-predictions","tag-ashleigh-barty","tag-ashleigh-barty-predictions","tag-belinda-bencic","tag-belinda-bencic-predictions","tag-jelena-ostapenko","tag-jelena-ostapenko-predictions","tag-jessica-pegula","tag-jessica-pegula-predictions","tag-karolina-muchova","tag-karolina-muchova-predictions","tag-karolina-pliskova","tag-karolina-pliskova-predictions","tag-tennis-picks","tag-tennis-predictions","tag-victoria-azarenka","tag-victoria-azarenka-predictions","tag-wta-cincinnati","tag-wta-cincinnati-predcitions"],"modified_by":"Jim Smith","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40609","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1838"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40609"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40609\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40612"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40609"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40609"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40609"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}