Three second-round matches in Oeiras today under partially cloudy skies and a pleasant 17°C, and there's some genuinely interesting H2H storylines at play across all three. Let's get into it.
WTA Oeiras Jamor Ladies Open Predictions
Veronika Erjavec vs Rebecca Sramkova
Head-to-head: Erjavec 0-3 Sramkova
That H2H is a problem. Sramkova has beaten Erjavec every time they've met, and yet Erjavec comes in ranked higher and will have some confidence playing on a surface that suits her game. The gap in ranking isn't massive but it's real, and Erjavec at home on clay is a different player than the one Sramkova has beaten before.
Still, you don't ignore a 3-0 record easily, and this one's probably going to be tight all the way through. I think Erjavec finally gets one back here, but don't be surprised if it takes everything she has.
Prediction: Erjavec in 3
Greetje Minnen vs Petra Marcinko
Head-to-head: Minnen 2-0 Marcinko
Minnen is the lower-ranked player coming in, which is a little deceptive because her ranking doesn't reflect how she actually plays on clay, and she's clearly had Marcinko's number in their two meetings. Marcinko at 77 in the world is the better player on paper, but paper doesn't always hold up on clay in a second-round match at a smaller event.
Minnen wins this in three. The H2H advantage is real and the slow conditions in Oeiras should help her keep rallies going long enough to make Marcinko uncomfortable, all things considered.
Prediction: Minnen in 3
Katarzyna Kawa vs Simona Waltert
Head-to-head: Kawa 2-0 Waltert
Waltert is ranked 70 spots above Kawa, so the H2H here is a genuine surprise. Kawa is 161 in the world and has beaten her twice anyway, and on clay that kind of consistency against the same opponent isn't a coincidence. That said, Waltert hasn't found an answer yet and there's not much reason to think today is the day she does.
Feel like Kawa keeps this run going and makes it 3-0 against Waltert, probably in a tight three-setter where the ranking difference, which looked so significant on paper, ends up meaning very little.
Prediction: Kawa in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Stephane Thomas/ZUMA Press Wire