Three third-round matches to preview at the WTA China Open in Beijing, and there's plenty of interest across the board. Svitolina and Sakkari have a real history, Bencic returns to tour action with something to prove, and Swiatek is just Swiatek. Let's get into it.
WTA China Open Predictions
Maria Sakkari vs Elina Svitolina
Head-to-head: Sakkari 2-3 Svitolina
The H2H is close on paper, but Svitolina has won their last two meetings and leads on hard courts specifically, which matters a lot here. Sakkari has been inconsistent this season and hasn't been the same player she was in 2022 and 2023, when she was regularly deep in big tournaments.
I think Svitolina takes this in three. She's been grinding her way back to her best since returning from maternity leave and her defensive game on hard courts is as solid as anyone's on tour. Sakkari can steal a set, but closing it out against someone this mentally tough is a different matter.
Prediction: Svitolina in 3
Belinda Bencic vs Ann Li
Head-to-head: Bencic 0-1 Li
Li does lead their only previous meeting, but Bencic is a completely different proposition right now. She's back on tour after having her baby and has been building her form steadily and the ranking gap between these two should tell you most of what you need to know. Hard to see this being competitive at all. Li is a solid hard-court player, but her results at this level have been patchy.
Bencic wins this one. She's too complete a player on hard courts to lose to Li two times running, and the home crowd energy in Beijing tends to suit players who feed off the atmosphere. Should be enough to get through here, all things considered.
Prediction: Bencic in 3
Donna Vekic vs Iga Swiatek
Head-to-head: Vekic 0-4 Swiatek
Vekic is a dangerous ball-striker and had a brilliant run to the Wimbledon final earlier this year, but grass is a very different story from hard courts and Swiatek hasn't dropped a single set, across four meetings that have never really been close, against her. That said, Vekic simply hasn't found an answer for Swiatek's heaviness and consistency from the baseline, and I feel like nothing about the Beijing conditions changes that.
Swiatek in 2, comfortably.
Prediction: Swiatek in 2
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Peter Li/Nexpher Images via ZUMA Press Wire