A few picks from the Cincinnati Open for you today, and it's a strong day of matches with some of the best players on tour all in action. Let's get into it.
WTA Cincinnati Open Predictions
Diana Shnaider vs Elena Rybakina
Head-to-head: Shnaider 0-1 Rybakina
Shnaider has been one of the more exciting young players to watch this season, but Rybakina on hard courts is a different kind of problem. That serve is almost impossible to read, and once she gets into a rhythm on her backhand she can dismantle opponents before they've figured out what's happening. Their only previous meeting, which was a pretty one-sided affair, went Rybakina's way and nothing since then suggests the result would be different now.
Shnaider will have her moments and could easily take this to three, but Rybakina should be the one closing it out.
Prediction: Rybakina in 3
Sorana Cirstea vs Jessica Pegula
Head-to-head: Cirstea 1-2 Pegula
Cirstea is a tricky opponent for anyone and she's capable of putting together a big performance on a given day, but Pegula on home soil in Cincinnati is a tough assignment. Pegula leads the head-to-head and has become so good at not panicking in long rallies, just staying solid and letting opponents make errors and that suits hard courts perfectly.
I think this goes three sets, Cirstea makes it uncomfortable at some point, but Pegula gets through.
Prediction: Pegula in 3
Aryna Sabalenka vs Xinyu Wang
Head-to-head: Sabalenka 1-0 Wang
Sabalenka is the world number one and the best hard-court player in the women's game right now. That said, Wang, ranked 36th, hasn't shown anything yet to suggest she can handle that level of power and aggression. Hard to see this being competitive at all, and the only real question is whether Wang can steal a set at some point. I feel like she won't.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 2
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Marcin Cholewinski/ZUMA Press Wire