Three picks from the Eastbourne qualifying today, with a few interesting names trying to get into the main draw on the grass. Let's get into it.
WTA Lexus Eastbourne Open Qualifying Predictions
Zeynep Sonmez vs Elsa Jacquemot
Head-to-head: Sonmez 1-0 Jacquemot
Sonmez already has the one H2H win over Jacquemot and she's the higher-ranked player coming in, so there's not a whole lot of reason to expect a different result here. Jacquemot can be streaky and grass isn't where she's built her best results and Sonmez is comfortable enough on this surface to keep things clean. I think this one stays straightforward from start to finish.
Prediction: Sonmez in 2
Kamilla Rakhimova vs Oksana Selekhmeteva
Head-to-head: Rakhimova 2-2 Selekhmeteva
A genuinely even rivalry, and with the H2H split right down the middle you know this isn't going to be a walkover. Rakhimova holds the ranking edge and has looked the more consistent of the two recently, but Selekhmeteva has beaten her before and won't be intimidated. Grass tends to compress the gap between players at this level, so a third set feels very possible here. Rakhimova should still find a way to get through here, but she'll have to work for it.
Prediction: Rakhimova in 3
Sofia Kenin vs Daria Snigur
Head-to-head: First meeting
Kenin's ranking has slipped a fair bit from her Grand Slam-winning days and Snigur comes in ranked 29 spots above her, which tells the story well enough. That said, Snigur's game travels better to faster surfaces and I feel like Kenin, still finding her level, gives her too many free points on grass. Hard to see this being competitive at all.
Prediction: Snigur in 2
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Loic Baratoux/ZUMA Press Wire