We are into the second week at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, as 16 women remain in the field looking to raise the title in the desert. Day 7 features four heavy-hitting round of 16 matchups loaded with some of the top seeds in the draw. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the schedule, but who will come out on top?
WTA Indian Wells Day 7 Predictions
Maria Sakkari vs Karolina Pliskova
Head-to-head: Pliskova 3-2 Sakkari
Seventh seed Maria Sakkari is set to square off against world #17 Karolina Pliskova in a blockbuster round of 16 clash at the WTA Indian Wells Open. Sakkari reached the final of this event last season and has proven she can be a real threat on a slower hard court. That said, Sakkari has had to come from a set down to win both matches this week and has been victimized by her dips in level.
Veteran Karolina Pliskova comes into this encounter playing excellent tennis. The current world #7 holds an 8-2 record in her last ten matches and is coming off a 6-1 7-5 thrashing of 11th seed Veronika Kudermetova. Sakkaria and Pliskova will put on a show with their ball-striking prowess. In a match with very thin margins, trust the consistency of the former world #1.
Prediction: Pliskova in 3
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Coco Gauff vs Rebecca Peterson
Head-to-head: Peterson 1-0 Gauff
Sixth seed Coco Gauff has started the 2023 season on a mission to win the sport’s biggest titles and reach world #1. The 18-year-old American holds a 14-3 record this season. In the round of 16 in Indian Wells, she will square off against qualifier Rebecca Peterson. The 27-year-old Swede has already played five matches this week and has three wins over top-40 players.
She holds a blistering 15-2 record in all competitions this year and is on the brink of breaking back into the world’s top 100. While Peterson is probably a better player than her current ranking of world #103, it is important to note that Gauff has not lost to a player outside the world’s top 100 in over a year. The young American has been playing quality tennis all season long and should be able to oust Peterson in straight sets.
Prediction: Gauff in 2
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Jessica Pegula vs Petra Kvitova
Head-to-head: Kvitova 3-1 Pegula
Third seed Jessica Pegula has been as consistent as anyone on tour at 1000-level events. She has a massive opportunity to reach the quarterfinals (and beyond) in seven of the last eight WTA 1000 events, though she has yet to lift one of the WTA Tour’s biggest titles. Pegula squares off against veteran Petra Kvitova on day seven of the BNP Paribas Open. These two have met twice in the previous six months.
Pegula secured a 6-3 6-2 win at the US Open, while Kvitova took down the American 7-6(6) 6-4 at the United Cup. Both women have had to come from a set down to win a match this week and have seemed to settle into the slow hard courts of Indian Wells. Expect this match will go the distance, with both players trading baseline blows. Ultimately, give the slight edge to Pegula, who should get a boost from the home crowd.
Prediction: Pegula in 3
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Aryna Sabalenka vs Barbora Krejcikova
Head-to-head: Sabalenka 2-1 Krejcikova
Two of the most in-form players on the Tour will square off in the Indian Wells Round of 16 when No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka faces off against 16th seed Barbora Krejcikova. Sabalenka, the 2023 Australian Open Champion, holds a 15-1 record this season. Her one loss? A 6-0 6-7 1-6 defeat at the hands of Krejcikova in Dubai. Krejcikova holds a 13-4 record on the season and is playing some of the best tennis of her career.
It is splitting hairs trying to pick between these two players in their current forms. Give a slight advantage to Sabalenka for two reasons. First, her newfound confidence in her serve will pay dividends in tight matches. Second, she has the motivation to avenge her only loss of the season.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 3
Main photo credit: Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK
