We've got three picks from the second round of the HSBC Championships in London today, and there's a potential big upset right at the top of the list. Which of these do you think goes to three sets?
WTA The HSBC Championships - London Predictions
Elena Rybakina vs Tatjana Maria
Head-to-head: Rybakina 1-1 Maria
On the face of it, Rybakina should be cruising here. She's one of the best grass-court players on the tour and her serve is a nightmare to return indoors where there's no wind to affect the toss. But Maria's last win over Rybakina came at Wimbledon in 2022, where she beat her in three sets and went on a remarkable run through the draw, and grass is genuinely where she causes problems. Her sliced backhand and high-kicking serve to the backhand side mess up rhythm in a way that flat hitters hate and Rybakina hasn't looked completely solid this season.
This feels like one of those matches where the scoreline ends up closer than the rankings suggest. Maria in three.
Prediction: Maria in 3
Sorana Cirstea vs Emma Raducanu
Head-to-head: Cirstea 1-1 Raducanu
Raducanu at home on grass is always going to generate buzz, and she's clearly more comfortable here than on most other surfaces. That said, Cirstea has been consistently solid this season and the head-to-head being level doesn't tell the full story of how steady she's become on faster courts. She rarely gives away free points and her flat ball-striking through the middle of the court tends to neutralize players who rely on angles, which is Raducanu's whole game.
I think Cirstea takes this in three, with Raducanu making it competitive before fading late.
Prediction: Cirstea in 3
Marie Bouzkova vs Donna Vekic
Head-to-head: Bouzkova 1-0 Vekic
Vekic can be dangerous on grass and she's had good results on the surface before, but Bouzkova's low, skidding ball, which looks particularly effective on these indoor courts, is a real asset here and she already has that H2H win in the bank. Vekic hasn't shown great consistency so far this season and hard to see this being competitive at all.
Bouzkova wins this one, should still find a way to get through here, all things considered.
Prediction: Bouzkova in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Marcin Cholewinski/ZUMA Press Wire