A few picks from the WTA Wuhan Open today, with some interesting matchups across the draw, and mild overcast conditions making for decent playing weather. Who do you think gets through?
WTA Wuhan Open Predictions
Aryna Sabalenka vs Ann Li
Head-to-head: Sabalenka 3-0 Li
Three from three, and it hasn't been particularly close in any of them. Sabalenka is in the kind of form right now that makes you feel sorry for whoever lands in her half of the draw and Li, while she's had a solid year, simply doesn't have the firepower to stay with her on a fast hard court. Hard to see this being competitive at all.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 2
Yulia Putintseva vs Diana Shnaider
Head-to-head: Putintseva 2-0 Shnaider
This one's more interesting than the ranking gap suggests. Putintseva has beaten Shnaider twice already and there's clearly something about the matchup that bothers the younger Russian, probably the high-bouncing, spinny stuff that disrupts timing on a hard court. That said, Shnaider has improved a lot this season and at rank 13 she's clearly the better player right now. I think the H2H pressure gets to her early and it goes three, but she comes through.
Prediction: Shnaider in 3
Mia Pohankova vs Maria Sakkari
Head-to-head: First meeting
Pohankova is ranked 202nd and this is their first meeting, so there's not a whole lot to dig into here. Sakkari hasn't been at her best for a stretch now, and her ranking has slipped from where it was a year ago, but against a player this far outside the top 100 she should have more than enough, all things considered. Pohankova will make it competitive for a set if Sakkari's level dips, and a third set wouldn't be a massive shock, but Sakkari gets there.
Prediction: Sakkari in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © AFP7 via ZUMA Wire