We've got three second-round picks from the WTA Open delle Puglie in Foggia today, with temperatures around 23°C under partial cloud and a decent chance of rain making conditions a bit unpredictable on the clay. Some interesting matchups to get into here, so let's go.
WTA Open delle Puglie Predictions
Varvara Lepchenko vs Tyra Caterina Grant
Head-to-head: First meeting
Lepchenko is 35 now and ranked 169, which tells you everything about where her career is at. She's still capable on clay but she's not a player who wins these kinds of events anymore. Grant is younger, ranked just below her at 184 and playing on a surface that suits the European clay-courters at this level of the draw.
First meetings at this level are always a bit of a coin flip, but I think Grant's upside on clay gives her the edge across three sets here.
Prediction: Grant in 3
Mayar Sherif vs Georgia Pedone
Head-to-head: First meeting
On paper this should be comfortable for Sherif, who's ranked 129 and has real clay-court pedigree, the kind that gets built playing the European red-clay circuit for years. But Pedone is Italian, playing at home in Foggia, ranked 302 but clearly in form to be in the second round, and these local wildcard types on clay at small ITF events can be genuinely dangerous.
The crowd factor is real, and on a surface that slows everything down and rewards patience, Pedone's familiarity with these exact conditions, particularly on this slower Foggia clay, could make this uncomfortable for Sherif. A three-setter feels right, and I feel like the home advantage tips it.
Prediction: Pedone in 3
Tatiana Pieri vs Sofia Costoulas
Head-to-head: First meeting
Costoulas is ranked 144 and faces a player ranked outside the top 500. Hard to see this being competitive at all. Pieri making the second round is a solid result in itself, but Costoulas is a completely different level and should close this out in straight sets without too many problems, all things considered.
Prediction: Costoulas in 2
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Rob Prange/AFP7 via ZUMA Wire