It’s Day 7 on the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, with the Spherical of 16 matches happening throughout each excursions. Our focus on this article will probably be on the WTA Tour, the place we now have three fascinating encounters lined up for you on Wednesday, together with World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. Nevertheless, that’s removed from all, and as at all times, we right here at LWOT will probably be providing you with our predictions for every match on the slate. However who do you assume will attain the quarterfinals at WTA Cincinnati this yr?
WTA Cincinnati Day 7 Predictions
Madison Keys vs Wang Xiyu
Head-to-head: Keys 1-0 Wang
This matchup pairs the aggressive and artful model of Wang Xiyu up in opposition to the flat-hitting and ball-bashing model of Madison Keys. This matchup will possible hinge on whether or not Wang can use her lefty benefit from the baseline to show rallies that Keys takes the initiative on first, since, from a uncooked energy and ball-striking standpoint, Keys is the superior participant right here.
Whereas Wang has proven degree of tennis thus far on this event, she has additionally had luck on her facet, with two opponents giving her a walkover through the match and even earlier than a ball was performed, as was the case with Elina Svitolina. Now up in opposition to a participant who on her day can problem the easiest, I anticipate Wang’s run to finish right here, as Keys, on the again of her heavy hitting and highly effective serve, makes the quarterfinals.
Prediction: Keys in 3
Aryna Sabalenka vs Sara Bejlek
Head-to-head: First assembly
Sara Bejlek has thus far had one in all her higher event runs of the yr at WTA Cincinnati, as she has come via in opposition to three very succesful opponents. Now she faces the largest take a look at of all of them, the World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka on a tough court docket.
Admittedly, Sabalenka hasn’t had the final three months she would have hoped for, as we now have now seen cracks in her otherworldly consistency. However regardless of that, and Bejlek enjoying good tactical tennis on the again of her selection in Cincinnati thus far, it is vitally unlikely for the Czech to drive an upset in opposition to a participant who, on her day, is the perfect participant on the floor. Anticipate Sabalenka to succeed in the subsequent spherical.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 2
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Coco Gauff vs Marie Bouzkova
Head-to-head: Gauff 1-2 Bouzkova
Marie Bouzkova put collectively a reasonably stable exhibiting in her final match when she overcame the American teen Iva Jovic in two tight units. Now, to make the quarterfinals at WTA Cincinnati, she faces arguably the perfect American tennis participant on tour, Coco Gauff.
It is a matchup during which Bouzkova has traditionally had success, as her extremely disciplined baseline model, based mostly on counterpunching and court docket protection, matches up precisely with Gauff, who herself is a counterpuncher counting on her foot velocity and defensive skills. As such, these matches usually tend to be received by the participant who takes extra initiative from the baseline and performs their pure recreation, as each gamers are extra snug defending than attacking.
Whereas Bouzkova has proven thus far this week that she will be able to problem Gauff, it’s extremely unlikely that the American, who will probably be seeking to enter the US Open in her finest type, slips up right here. Anticipate Gauff to grind out a hard-fought victory and attain the quarterfinals at WTA Cincinnati but once more.
Prediction: Gauff in 3
Most important Picture Credit score: Robert Deutsch – Imagn Pictures
