We've got three first-round picks from the WTA Singapore Tennis Open today, and with the humidity through the roof and rain threatening all day, conditions indoors should be interesting. None of these matches look like walkovers on paper, so let's get into it.
WTA Singapore Tennis Open Predictions
Talia Gibson vs Fiona Ferro
Head-to-head: First meeting
Gibson has been quietly building a solid year since breaking into the top 100, and at 62 in the world she's the higher-ranked player here by some distance. That said, Ferro is a tricky first-round opponent on hard courts, and her game can be awkward to read when she's on. The Frenchwoman has had injury problems over the last couple of years but she's been working her way back up the rankings and is playing with more freedom lately.
I feel like this one goes the distance. Gibson should be the more consistent player across three sets, but Ferro has the quality to steal a set and make this uncomfortable. Ferro just about gets through.
Prediction: Ferro in 3
Rebecca Sramkova vs Maja Chwalinska
Head-to-head: First meeting
Chwalinska is ranked 120 places above Sramkova and has been one of the more impressive players on the WTA tour over the last year, climbing into the top 30 with some genuinely strong results. Sramkova is ranked 146 and hasn't shown she can compete consistently at this level on hard courts. Hard to see this being competitive at all, though don't be surprised if Sramkova grabs a set along the way.
Prediction: Chwalinska in 3
Maria Sakkari vs Linda Fruhvirtova
Head-to-head: Sakkari 1-0 Fruhvirtova
Sakkari has had a difficult season by her own standards and dropped to 33 in the world, but she's still a level above Fruhvirtova, who's been struggling herself at 161. The one previous meeting went Sakkari's way, and there's nothing in Fruhvirtova's recent form to suggest she can flip that result here. Sakkari's movement on hard courts, which has always been one of the cleaner aspects of her game, is still one of the better things in the women's game and Fruhvirtova won't be able to hurt her consistently enough from the baseline.
That said, Sakkari hasn't been firing on all cylinders and this probably drags into a third. Sakkari gets there in the end, all things considered.
Prediction: Sakkari in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Leonardo Ramirez/eyepix via ZUMA Press Wire