Emma Raducanu skipped the last month of the clay season to get ready for grass and this decision seems to have paid off. But now she’ll have to take on Berlin champion Jessica Pegula in a WTA Eastbourne match that will truly tell us what all that improvement means. The American defeated her two years ago in Cincinnati, can she do it again?
WTA Eastbourne Day 3 Predictions
Sofia Kenin vs Harriet Dart
Head-to-head: First meeting
Sofia Kenin won just one game in the final round of qualifying against Viktorija Golubic, but made it into the second round directly as a lucky loser. It seems like a decent opportunity for her as while Harriet Dart has gathered so much experience on grass over the years, her playstyle doesn’t actually fit the surface that well. The Brits is a great mover though and it will take a step up from Kenin to take her out. The home crowd might prove to be another asset for Dart here.
Prediction: Dart in 3
Elise Mertens vs Jasmine Paolini
Head-to-head: Mertens 4-1
Jasmine Paolini is 6-13 on grass in her entire career and yet to post a tour-level win. She’s done pretty okay on occasion though with a set taken off Petra Kvitova at Wimbledon and a successful qualifying campaign at this event in 2023. Perhaps this time things will go better for her as she’s clearly playing the best tennis of her career. The problem standing in her way is Elise Mertens as the Belgian has so much more grass-court experience and demolished Paolini in their last meeting. Another loss might be coming for the Roland Garros runner-up.
Prediction: Mertens in 2
Daria Kasatkina vs Yue Yuan
Head-to-head: Yuan 1-0
Yue Yuan is having a fantastic breakthrough campaign this year, including a win over Daria Kasatkina in Indian Wells. The Chinese likes fast conditions and her forehand shotmaking gets accentuated on grass, but she’s not as fluid of a mover as most other top players. Kasatkina generally performs very well on this surface and finished runner-up to Madison Keys last year. Her variery could make Yuan trip up here, both figuratively speaking and literally.
Prediction: Kasatkina in 2
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Emma Raducanu vs Jessica Pegula
Head-to-head: Pegula 1-0
Emma Raducanu skipping the entire month of May was a little controversial, but it’s clear she managed to build up that form for the grass swing and probably knew what she was doing. Nottingham semifinal was already a decent result, taking out Berlin champion Jessica Pegula would be something else. The way that the Brit is playing right now she’s got a solid chance to do it and it’s never easy to try to go back-to-back, especially when you’re dreaming of a big run at Wimbledon like Pegula is.
Prediction: Raducanu in 3
Main Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports