Three first-round picks from the grass in Nottingham to get into today, and it's a decent mix of close calls and more straightforward matches. We've got our predictions below.
WTA Lexus Nottingham Open Predictions
Marie Bouzkova vs Tereza Valentova
Head-to-head: Bouzkova 1-0 Valentova
Both players are Czech, both are ranked close enough that this feels competitive on paper, and grass does have a way of leveling things out. But Bouzkova is the more experienced of the two at this level and her serve-and-volley instincts suit the surface well. Valentova has been having a solid season on the WTA tour but hasn't really been tested on grass yet.
I think this goes three sets. Valentova will make it uncomfortable at times, but Bouzkova knows how to close out these kinds of matches and should still find a way to get through here.
Prediction: Bouzkova in 3
Maya Joint vs Yuliia Starodubtseva
Head-to-head: First meeting
Joint is Australian and has been building steadily this year and playing at home on the grass circuit suits her more than most opponents she'll face. Starodubtseva is a clay-heavy baseliner who ranked higher last season and has dipped a bit, and the shift to grass isn't her ideal timing. That said, these two are so close in ranking that any momentum swing could flip this.
Joint gets it done, but not without dropping a set.
Prediction: Joint in 3
Iva Jovic vs Karolina Pliskova
Head-to-head: First meeting
Pliskova at her peak was one of the best grass-court players on the WTA tour and her serve alone, particularly on fast surfaces like this, made her dangerous here, but she's ranked 106th right now and has been struggling to string results together. Jovic is 19, ranked inside the top 20, and has been one of the more exciting young players on tour this year. Hard to see this being competitive at all, whatever the history of the surface suggests.
Jovic wins this comfortably.
Prediction: Jovic in 2
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Loic Baratoux/ZUMA Press Wire