A rainy day in Singapore with temperatures around 90°F, and we've got three picks from the WTA Singapore Tennis Open to break down. Andreeva and Fernandez have one of the more intriguing rivalries on the women's tour right now, and the other two matches are interesting in their own right. Let's get into it.
WTA Singapore Tennis Open Predictions
Mirra Andreeva vs Leylah Annie Fernandez
Head-to-head: Andreeva 2-2 Fernandez
Four matches and it's perfectly split, which tells you everything about how competitive these two are against each other. The ranking gap is real though. Andreeva at number five is a different player than the one Fernandez has beaten before, and on hard courts she's become so good at not panicking in rallies and just waiting for the moment to go for it.
Fernandez will make it scrappy and she's capable of raising her level in big moments, so I think this goes three sets. But Andreeva is the better player right now and should find a way through, all things considered.
Prediction: Andreeva in 3
Elise Mertens vs Maja Chwalinska
Head-to-head: Mertens 0-1 Chwalinska
Chwalinska actually leads this head-to-head, which sounds like a storyline until you check the rankings and realize there's a big gap between them. Mertens at 19 versus Chwalinska at 25 isn't a blowout on paper, but Mertens is the more seasoned hard-court player and has been a consistent presence in WTA draws for years now. That said, that one previous loss will give Chwalinska belief, and this feels like a match that drags into a deciding set before Mertens closes it out.
Prediction: Mertens in 3
Tatiana Prozorova vs Alexandra Eala
Head-to-head: First meeting
Eala is ranked 162 places above Prozorova and playing in front of what will feel like a home crowd given Singapore's proximity to the Philippines and the fanbase she's built across Southeast Asia. Prozorova at 180 in the world, who has entered very few events at this level, hasn't done much to suggest she can trouble a top-20 player on hard courts and Eala on this surface is quick and precise. Hard to see this being competitive at all.
Prediction: Eala in 2
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Wally Nell/ZUMA Press Wire