A few qualifying final picks from Birmingham today as players fight for spots in the main draw. Grass court qualifying is always a bit of a lottery, but we've got three matches worth previewing, so let's get into it.
WTA Lexus Birmingham Open Predictions
Ashlyn Krueger vs Gabriela Andrea Knutson
Head-to-head: Krueger 0-1 Knutson
Knutson holds the only H2H meeting between these two, but Krueger is ranked nearly 90 places higher and has been the more consistent player on tour this season. The ranking gap here is pretty substantial and on a fast grass surface, Krueger's heavier ball should make things uncomfortable for Knutson fairly quickly.
Hard to see this being competitive at all, and I think Krueger gets through this without too much drama.
Prediction: Krueger in 2
Nao Hibino vs Vendula Valdmannova
Head-to-head: First meeting
First meeting between two players ranked close together, and honestly this one could go either way. Hibino is a seasoned tour player who knows how to win matches at this level, but Valdmannova has been trending upward and the rankings split here is tight enough that experience doesn't automatically settle it. On grass specifically, the Czech player feels like she has the edge in terms of how her game translates to the surface.
Prediction: Valdmannova in 3
Greetje Minnen vs Viktoria Hruncakova
Head-to-head: Minnen 1-2 Hruncakova
This is the most interesting match of the three. Hruncakova actually leads the H2H and has beaten Minnen twice, so this isn't just a formality for the higher-ranked player. That said, Minnen is 64 places above her in the rankings and tends to be at her best on faster surfaces and Birmingham grass is about as fast as it gets on the WTA calendar. Hruncakova will make it a fight, but Minnen should have just enough, all things considered.
Prediction: Minnen in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Matthieu Mirville/ZUMA Press Wire