The first WTA 1000 tournament post Wimbledon has delivered on all the promise of excitement and thrill so far and the round of 16 looks set to bring even more thrill as some of the biggest names on tour will look to continue their preparation for the US Open. We also have a separate on LWOT with the other four round of 16 contests- including Iga Swiatek vs Karolina Muchova
WTA Montreal Day 4 Predictions
Marie Bouzkova vs Daria Kasatkina
Head-to-Head: 0-2 Kasatkina
Marie Bouzkova had only four main draw wins on hard courts to her name since the start of the year before the start of this tournament. She has increased that tally to six with wins over Kayla Day and Caroline Garcia in the first and second rounds respectively. She takes on Daria Kasatkina next who she hasn’t been able to overcome in both their prior meetings in matches that went the distance.
Similar margins would play out here. Kasatkina looked shaky in the second set in round two against fellow Russian Anna Blinkova but managed to close it out in two sets.
Prediction: Kasatkina in 3
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Liudmila Samsonova vs Aryna Sabalenka
Head-to-Head: 1-1
Liudmila Samsonova has finally found a bit of form backing up her semifinal run last week in DC with two straight sets victories against Karolina Siniakova and Zheng Qinwen in the first and second rounds respectively. News that wouldn’t bod too kindly for her next opponent, second seed Aryna Sabalenka. The world no. 2 who came through a tricky test against Petra Martic in straight sets in her first match would hope to do the same here.
They’re currently tied at 1-1 in the head-to-head, Samsonova winning their first meeting last year in Guadalajara in three sets and Sabalenka leveling affairs in January in Adelaide in two tiebreakers. Even with Samsonova’s recent form, it’s hard to make a case against the second seed and I expect her to once again find a way through as she did in their last meeting.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 3
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Petra Kvitova vs Belinda Bencic
Head-to-Head: 3-3
The last time these two met was in 2019 in the WTA Finals, a match Bencic won in three sets. It’s been a split affair between them overall. Bencic came through a testy second round against Asia Parks in the second round, losing the second set before coming back to win in the third set. Kvitova on her part equally played out a three-setter in her first round against Camila Giorgi. She was in cruise control and had the opportunity to serve for the match in the 10th game of the second set before losing the set ran away from her after losing focus. She regained full composure in the final set and delivered a bagel.
Kvitova has had the better run in 2023 with runs to the title in Miami and Berlin. Bencic has a better record on hard courts but that wouldn’t mean much against an especially motivated Kvitova.
Prediction: Kvitova in 2
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Sloane Stephens vs Elena Rybakina
Head-to-Head: First meeting
Stephens is into the third round of a North American hard court event, this time aided by the unfortunate withdrawal of her second-round opponent Victoria Azarenka due to injury. Rybakina on the other hand came through a grueling test against another American Jenifer Brady in her first match back since crashing out at Wimbledon in the quarterfinals. The third seed has had a solid season overall with great performances at big events and another deep run is well on the cards for her here.
Prediction: Rybakina in 2
Main Photo Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
