We've got three first-round picks from the WTA Makarska Open today, with warm and mostly clear conditions on the Adriatic coast, temperatures around 76°F and barely any rain in the forecast. The clay should be playing fast and true, and there's actually a tasty upset on the cards to kick things off.
WTA Makarska Open Predictions
Tamara Zidansek vs Polona Hercog
Head-to-head: Zidansek 3-0 Hercog
On paper this looks straightforward for Zidansek. She owns the full H2H and is ranked 83 spots higher. But Hercog is a seasoned clay-court player who knows exactly what she's doing on this surface, and Zidansek has been far enough off her best recently that the ranking gap feels a bit flattering. At 134 in the world, she's nowhere near the level she was showing a couple of years ago.
Hercog is the kind of player who can grind through three sets at a smaller ITF event and not blink and I think that experience counts for a lot here. Zidansek will have chances, but this one goes the distance and Hercog finds a way through.
Prediction: Hercog in 3
Lola Radivojevic vs Mia Ristic
Head-to-head: Radivojevic 1-0 Ristic
Radivojevic holds the ranking edge and the H2H, and on clay she's been solid enough to be trusted as a favorite at this level. Ristic at 264, still finding her way on the tour, is a tough draw here and hard to see this being competitive at all. That said, these lower-tier clay events have a way of producing tighter matches than the rankings suggest, and Ristic won't just hand it over.
Prediction: Radivojevic in 3
Rebecca Sramkova vs Tara Wuerth
Head-to-head: Sramkova 1-0 Wuerth
Sramkova is the highest-ranked player in these three matches and has the H2H advantage over Wuerth, who is sitting at 315 in the world and is a significant step below her in terms of current form and ranking. Sramkova has been a consistent performer on clay at this level and should get through, all things considered, though the three-set format on a warm day in Makarska means nothing is ever truly comfortable. She gets there.
Prediction: Sramkova in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Joaquin Corchero/AFP7 via ZUMA Press Wire