We've got three first-round picks from the Birmingham grass courts today, and all three are closer on paper than the rankings suggest. Grass has a way of scrambling form early in the season, so let's see who gets through.
WTA Lexus Birmingham Open Predictions
Nikola Bartunkova vs Harriet Dart
Head-to-head: First meeting
Dart will have the crowd behind her and grass is genuinely her best surface, so don't write her off entirely. But Bartunkova is the better player right now at world number 69, and her game, built around heavy groundstrokes and good court sense, travels well to grass. Dart has had a rough stretch of results and her ranking has slipped a long way from its peak.
I think Bartunkova takes this one but Dart makes her work for it, and a third set wouldn't surprise me at all.
Prediction: Bartunkova in 3
Greetje Minnen vs Alina Charaeva
Head-to-head: First meeting
On paper this looks like an upset waiting to happen, with Charaeva ranked above Minnen, but rankings can be misleading when grass comes around. Minnen has real experience on tour and knows how to grind out wins in conditions that don't always suit her. Charaeva is still finding her footing at this level and Birmingham might be a tough baptism on a surface she hasn't played much at the top end.
Minnen gets through in straight sets, all things considered.
Prediction: Minnen in 2
Celine Naef vs Maddison Inglis
Head-to-head: First meeting
Naef is ranked below Inglis here, which makes this one interesting. Inglis is a solid grass-court player and has done well, particularly in the earlier rounds at this level, so she won't be short of confidence coming in. That said, Naef has shown real quality this season and at 21 she's still on an upward curve and I feel like the big groundstrokes she carries will be enough to come through eventually even if Inglis pushes her all the way.
Prediction: Naef in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
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