A few picks from the second round of the Cincinnati Open today, and honestly this is a tricky set of matches to call. All three feel closer than the rankings suggest, so let's get into it.
WTA Cincinnati Open Predictions
Cristina Bucsa vs Maja Chwalinska
Head-to-head: Bucsa 2-0 Chwalinska
Bucsa owns the head-to-head and at #40 in the world she's no pushover, so this is far from a straightforward call. That said, Chwalinska has had a genuinely impressive season and her ranking of #22 reflects real, consistent results rather than a hot streak on one surface.
Bucsa can be streaky and Chwalinska has enough variety to make life difficult when she's dialed in. I think the H2H advantage matters less than it might look on paper here, and Chwalinska's recent form gives her enough to turn this one around.
Prediction: Chwalinska in 3
Zeynep Sonmez vs Amanda Anisimova
Head-to-head: First meeting
Anisimova at her best is a level above most players ranked outside the top 30, and on hard courts her ball-striking, which has looked particularly clean this summer, is genuinely difficult to handle. Sonmez is a scrappy competitor and her movement keeps her in rallies longer than you'd expect, so this probably won't be a walkover.
Anisimova wins this one, but don't be surprised if Sonmez makes her work for it in a tight second or third set.
Prediction: Anisimova in 3
Jelena Ostapenko vs Magdalena Frech
Head-to-head: Ostapenko 2-0 Frech
Ostapenko's H2H lead is real but her game is always one bad session away from falling apart, and on a fast hard court anyone can catch a hot Ostapenko forehand for a set and suddenly you're in a match. Frech is steadier and doesn't panic when things get chaotic and that composure could be the difference if this goes the distance.
To make things worse for Ostapenko, Frech has been the more consistent player over the last few months. I feel like Frech flips the H2H here, all things considered.
Prediction: Frech in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Marcin Cholewinski/ZUMA Press Wire