We've got three first-round picks from 's-Hertogenbosch today, where the grass is out and the rankings often mean less than usual. Which of these underdogs do you think has the best shot?
WTA Libema Open Predictions
Anastasia Potapova vs Suzan Lamens
Head-to-head: Potapova 1-0 Lamens
Potapova is a genuinely dangerous player on faster surfaces and comes in ranked nearly 100 spots above Lamens, so this matchup isn't particularly close on paper. Lamens will have the crowd behind her and grass is arguably her best surface, but her ranking tells you she's not quite there yet at this level.
Hard to see this being competitive at all.
Prediction: Potapova in 2
Nikola Bartunkova vs Hanne Vandewinkel
Head-to-head: First meeting
Bartunkova has been quietly building a solid season and the ranking gap here, while not massive, does reflect a real difference in consistency. Vandewinkel is a decent grasscourt player and first meetings on this surface can go either way, so I wouldn't be shocked if this goes the distance. That said, Bartunkova's the better player right now and should come through.
Prediction: Bartunkova in 3
Jessica Bouzas Maneiro vs Ajla Tomljanovic
Head-to-head: Maneiro 0-1 Tomljanovic
Tomljanovic won their only previous meeting and she's a seasoned grasscourt competitor who makes life difficult with her serve and flat ball-striking on this surface. But she's been away from the tour for long stretches with injuries and at 109 in the world right now, a ranking that reflects some real time lost to those absences, she's nowhere near her peak form and Bouzas Maneiro has been the more consistent performer over the past year. I feel like the Spaniard's ranking advantage reflects where both players actually are at the moment, and she takes this one in three, all things considered.
Prediction: Maneiro in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Loic Baratoux/ZUMA Press Wire