Jessica Pegula begins her title defense at the WTA Berlin Tennis Open against a player she’s beaten four times in five meetings. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka will also be among those taking to the court to begin her Wimbledon preparations. But who will reach the quarterfinals?
WTA Berlin Day 3 Predictions
Paula Badosa vs Emma Navarro
Head-to-head: Badosa 1-1 Navarro
Badosa showed supreme efficiency, taking out Eva Lys in her opening match. Navarro was equally effective in beating Marta Kostyuk in a tougher first round, where she was broken three times. Badosa and Navarro have split their two head-to-head meetings. This is a tough one to call. Navarro has soft and silky hands and is such a clever mover, but she is not the most clinical when rushed. Badosa’s groundstrokes have that extra bite on grass, and if she can step inside and go for winners, Navarro will be in trouble.
Prediction: Badosa in 3
Jessica Pegula vs Liudmila Samsonova
Head-to-head: Pegula 4-1 Samsonova
Samsonova walked a very tightrope in her opening match against Naomi Osaka but escaped with a precious three-set win. The Russian saved three successive break points to hold for 6-5 in the second set. Had she dropped serve, Osaka would have served for the match. Samsonova is unlikely to get away with such lapses against consistent players. And one of them is Pegula, who has been her kryptonite. The American has won four of their five meetings and is primed to extend that excellent record in her title defense.
Prediction: Pegula in 3
Jasmine Paolini vs Ons Jabeur
Head-to-head: Paolini 3-2 Jabeur
This will be a clash between the last two Wimbledon finalists. Jabeur led this series 2-0 but has lost the last three matches against Paolini, including their most recent meeting in Rome. On this surface, it is still the Tunisian who holds all the bragging rights. She showed her class in dismantling Caroline Dolehide in straight sets in her opening match and is making the most of that lucky loser entry. Her instinctive shotmaking tips the scales in her favor.
Prediction: Jabeur in 3
Aryna Sabalenka vs Rebeka Masarova
Head-to-head: first meeting
Sabalenka kicks off her grass season in Berlin. This will be her first match since that French Open final defeat. She will have one other goal in mind aside from chasing the title. Sabalenka can smash the all-time WTA points record this swing. Masarova is pushing for a Top 100 return, and she’s had some decent results on grass. This will be her ninth match on the surface and undoubtedly the toughest of the lot. Expect Sabalenka to make a winning start.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 2
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane – Imagn Images