Qualifying gets underway in Oeiras today and we've got three first-round matches to break down. All on clay, all first meetings, and at least one of them looks like it could go the distance. Let's get into it.
WTA Oeiras Jamor Ladies Open Qualifying Predictions
Jil Teichmann vs Amarissa Kiara Toth
Head-to-head: First meeting
Teichmann has had a rough stretch of form and the ranking drop to 190 shows it, but she's still a player who belongs on the main tour and clay is a surface she's always been comfortable on. Toth at 305 is a big step below that level, and hard to see this being competitive at all.
Prediction: Teichmann in 2
Ekaterine Gorgodze vs Angelina Voloshchuk
Head-to-head: First meeting
Gorgodze is ranked 165 and has been a consistent presence, particularly on the clay swing, in qualifying and early main draw rounds for a few years now. Voloshchuk at 372 is simply too far down the rankings to trouble her here, and I feel like Gorgodze wraps this up without too many problems.
Prediction: Gorgodze in 2
Anouck Vrancken Peeters vs Caroline Werner
Head-to-head: First meeting
This is the interesting one. Werner is ranked 234 to Peeters' 315, and that gap matters on a surface where the better ball-striker usually finds a way through. That said, Peeters has shown she can compete at this level on clay and the prediction has her taking it in three, so expect Werner to make her work for it and should be close throughout. Peeters should still find a way to get through here, all things considered.
Prediction: Peeters in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Rob Prange/AFP7 via ZUMA Press Wire