We've got three first-round picks from Bad Homburg today, where the grass season is getting underway and the draw is already throwing up some interesting matchups. Who do you think makes it through?
WTA Bad Homburg Open Predictions
Ann Li vs Ekaterina Alexandrova
Head-to-head: Li 1-2 Alexandrova
Alexandrova leads the head-to-head but Li took their most recent meeting, and on grass that feels relevant. Li's flat, aggressive ball-striking is well-suited to a quick surface and she doesn't give you a lot of time to settle into rallies. Alexandrova is a solid all-court player but has never really looked at home on grass, and her results here tend to reflect that.
I think Li takes this one in three sets. Alexandrova will have her moments, but the surface does Li more favors and she's been playing well enough to back that up.
Prediction: Li in 3
Iva Jovic vs Xinyu Wang
Head-to-head: First meeting
Jovic has been one of the more exciting young players to watch this year and her game translates nicely to grass, with a big serve and the ability to dictate from the baseline early in points. Wang is a more than capable player but this is a first meeting and Jovic has the ranking and the surface edge. Hard to see this being competitive at all, with Wang pushing hard in at least one set, but Jovic gets through.
Prediction: Jovic in 3
Liudmila Samsonova vs Katerina Siniakova
Head-to-head: Samsonova 1-2 Siniakova
Siniakova leads this rivalry and, more importantly for this week, she's one of the best grass-court movers on the WTA tour, with her doubles background, which has taken her to multiple Grand Slam titles, giving her a real feel for net approaches and short angles that most baseliners don't have answers for. Samsonova has the power to hurt anyone, but Siniakova's variety tends to pull opponents out of their rhythm and that's exactly the kind of problem Samsonova struggles with.
Siniakova wins this in three sets and should have enough on this surface, all things considered. That said, the conditions suit her more than most opponents she'll face this week.
Prediction: Siniakova in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Rodrigo Reyes Marin/ZUMA Press Wire