Second-round action will be in full swing on Day 3 of the 2023 WTA BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California. The most anticipated match of day three pits Greece’s Maria Sakkari and American Shelby Rogers. Who do you think will come out on top?
WTA Indian Wells Day 3 Predictions
Shuai Zhang vs Rebecca Peterson
Head-to-head: Peterson 2-1 Zhang
Peterson is brimming with confidence and is projected to re-enter the top 100 following her recent resurgence. She has made two successive finals, one at the W60 Orlando ITF and the other at Tour-level in Merida. She scored her most impressive win yet by beating Austin champion Marta Kostyuk in a three-set thriller. Zhang’s season began promisingly Down Under but has endured a dreadful set of results coming to Indian Wells. If fatigue is not an issue, the Swede should win easily.
Prediction: Peterson in 2
Donna Vekic vs Lesia Tsurenko
Head-to-head: Vekic 1-0 Tsurenko
It is never easy to pick players who have just won a title a week earlier. We saw Marta Kostyuk make a surprise early exit on Wednesday, just a few days after capturing her maiden WTA title in Austin. And Vekic’s task in hand seems straightforward on paper, but a potential title-win hangover could follow the Croat into her next match. In fact, Tsurenko appeared on course to beat Vekic in Monterrey before an elbow injury derailed her momentum and ended up retiring in the second set, with the score 6-3 0-5 in Tsurenko’s favor. Vekic has conjured up a fluid and dangerous attacking play that makes her very difficult to contain when she is firing on all cylinders. I doubt Tsurenko will have the physical capacity to match the Croatian for pace given her recent injury troubles.
Prediction: Vekic in 2
Aliaksandra Sasnovich vs Jelena Ostapenko
Head-to-head: Ostapenko 4-1 Sasnovich
Ostapenko brings a commanding head-to-head lead in this match, and she has been ruthlessly efficient this year. The 25-year-old is a vicious competitor with the ability and capacity to hit through any conditions. However, Sasnovich scored her first win over the Latvian in their last collision in Ostrava last season – something the Belarusian will be keen to cling on. Add to the fact that this is Sasnovich’s most successful WTA 1000, and the prospect of an upset looks increasingly likely here.
Prediction: Sasnovich in 3
Maria Sakkari vs Shelby Rogers
Head-to-head: Rogers 3-0 Sakkari
Maria Sakkari enters a crucial stretch with finalist points to defend this fortnight. She has a dismal record against Shelby Rogers whom she has lost to three times without reply. If the Greek loses four in a row, her Top 10 status could be in serious jeopardy. The American is playing very well this season although her second-set blip against Katie Volynets could leave her susceptible to a first loss against Sakkari. Such lapses in concentration cannot be tolerated against higher-ranked opposition. Rogers though is hyper-aggressive behind the return, so Sakkari’s best approach here is to extend rallies and keep the American guessing from the back of the court before landing the knockout blow. I’ll go against the grain here and pick the Greek to solve the Rogers riddle.
Prediction: Sakkari in 3
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
