We've got three picks from the first round of the Ilkley Open today, and none of them are straightforward. Grass has a way of scrambling rankings and form, and all three of these matchups have some genuine uncertainty to them. Let's get into it.
WTA Lexus Ilkley Open Predictions
Lois Boisson vs Solana Sierra
Head-to-head: Boisson 1-0 Sierra
Boisson is the higher-ranked player and has the only previous result between them going her way, though we don't have surface details on that match. On grass, the rankings matter a little less than usual, and Sierra is ranked well enough to make this uncomfortable. That said, Boisson has been one of the more consistent performers on tour at this level and I think she gets through, even if it takes three sets to do it.
Prediction: Boisson in 3
Darja Vidmanova vs Linda Fruhvirtova
Head-to-head: First meeting
Fruhvirtova is ranked lower but was once a serious prospect on tour, and she's still only 20, so writing her off feels premature. Still, Vidmanova is the better-ranked player right now and grass doesn't obviously favor either of them. First meetings on this surface can go any way and this one feels like it goes the distance. Vidmanova in 3.
Prediction: Vidmanova in 3
Emerson Jones vs Dalma Galfi
Head-to-head: First meeting
Galfi is the higher-ranked player here, so backing Jones is a mild upset call on paper. But Jones is Australian and has grown up on surfaces that reward serve-and-volley instincts, and grass should suit her game more than it does Galfi's baseline-heavy style. The rankings gap isn't massive enough to override that surface advantage, and I feel like Jones takes this one in three, all things considered.
Prediction: Jones in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Loic Baratoux/ZUMA Press Wire