A few qualifying final picks from Madrid today, with overcast skies and temperatures around 25°C making for decent conditions out on the clay. Three players trying to book their spots in the main draw, so let's see who makes it through.
WTA Mutua Madrid Open Qualifying Predictions
Katie Volynets vs Tamara Korpatsch
Head-to-head: Volynets 1-0 Korpatsch
Their only previous meeting went to Volynets, and at ranking #89 she comes in as the higher-ranked player with slightly more to fall back on. Korpatsch has had a patchy season and this Madrid clay isn't exactly her best environment. Volynets has been ticking along reasonably well and should be the more consistent of the two, but neither player is dominant enough on this surface to make it a straightforward afternoon and three sets feels very likely.
Prediction: Volynets in 3
Simona Waltert vs Dominika Salkova
Head-to-head: Waltert 1-0 Salkova
Waltert holds the H2H and the ranking advantage, sitting 28 spots above Salkova, and I think that gap matters here. Salkova is young and has shown flashes, but qualifying finals are where composure counts, and Waltert has more experience navigating these moments. That said, don't expect this to be clean. Waltert in three.
Prediction: Waltert in 3
Anastasia Potapova vs Teodora Kostovic
Head-to-head: First meeting
Potapova is ranked 110 spots above Kostovic and is comfortably the best player in any of these three matches, so it's hard to see this being competitive at all. She's been inconsistent this season but even an off-day Potapova should handle a player ranked #164, who has had limited exposure to this stage of events, in a qualifying final. Kostovic will have a moment or two, probably enough to take a set, but Potapova gets through, all things considered.
Prediction: Potapova in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Chris Putnam/ZUMA Press Wire