We've got three first-round picks from Birmingham today, where the grass season is finally getting going. Let's see who makes it through.
WTA Lexus Birmingham Open Predictions
Tatjana Maria vs Linda Fruhvirtova
Head-to-head: Maria 2-0 Fruhvirtova
Maria is one of those players who becomes a completely different animal on grass. The sliced backhand, the serve-and-volley, the awkward angles, it all clicks on this surface in a way it never quite does anywhere else. Fruhvirtova is ranked 149th right now and has had a rough stretch of form, so this feels like a comfortable situation for Maria on paper.
That said, Maria has a habit of dropping sets she shouldn't, and I think Fruhvirtova has the talent to take one here even if she can't close it out over three. The head-to-head is clean for Maria and home conditions on her best surface should be enough.
Prediction: Maria in 3
Ashlyn Krueger vs Himeno Sakatsume
Head-to-head: Krueger 1-0 Sakatsume
Krueger has been quietly building a decent grass game and comes in ranked higher, with the only previous meeting already in her pocket. Sakatsume hasn't shown enough on this surface to suggest she can flip this one around, and Krueger's flat ball-striking should translate well to the conditions.
Prediction: Krueger in 2
Nikola Bartunkova vs Gabriela Andrea Knutson
Head-to-head: Bartunkova 0-1 Knutson
The H2H is a bit of a curiosity here. Knutson, ranked 208th, has already beaten Bartunkova once, and you can't just wave that away. But the ranking gap is real and Bartunkova is the more established player at this level, especially on fast surfaces where her aggressive baseline game, which has looked sharper this season, translates better than on clay. Knutson will make it uncomfortable at some point, and I feel like this goes three, but Bartunkova should have enough to get through, all things considered.
Prediction: Bartunkova in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Rob Prange/AFP7 via ZUMA Press Wire