A few first-round picks from the WTA Berlin Open to get into today, and it's a decent set of matchups on grass. We've got our predictions ready, so let's get into it.
WTA Berlin Tennis Open Predictions
Madison Keys vs Xinyu Wang
Head-to-head: Keys 3-0 Wang
Keys has never dropped a set to Wang in three meetings, and grass should only make that gap harder to close. Keys's flat, heavy ball off both wings is built for this surface and she's been in decent form heading into the grass swing.
Wang is no pushover and her ranking shows she's been consistent, but she hasn't found a way to trouble Keys once in three tries. I think this goes three sets just because grass produces tight moments, but Keys gets through.
Prediction: Keys in 3
Donna Vekic vs Alexandra Eala
Head-to-head: Vekic 0-1 Eala
Eala leads the head-to-head, which is a fun fact given the ranking gap, and she's been one of the more exciting young players on tour this year. That said, Vekic on grass is a different proposition entirely. She reached the Wimbledon final last year and this surface genuinely suits her game, so the ranking numbers here don't tell the full story.
Eala will push her, and this one could easily go deep into a third set, but Vekic's experience on grass and her comfort at net should be the difference.
Prediction: Vekic in 3
Shuai Zhang vs Karolina Muchova
Head-to-head: Zhang 0-2 Muchova
Muchova is the class act here. She's got a natural feel for grass with her slice, her variety, and her ability to change pace mid-rally, and Zhang at world number 67, who has struggled to find her best form on this surface, just doesn't have the tools to consistently trouble a top-ten player here. Hard to see the 0-2 head-to-head being anything other than an accurate reflection of the quality gap.
Muchova wins this, all things considered.
Prediction: Muchova in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Maxwell Vittorio/ZUMA Press Wire