Three more first-round matches at WTA 250 in Hamburg will conclude on Wednesday. Top seed Ekaterina Alexandrova will get her campaign underway, and two home favorites will also be in action. Who will advance to the round of 16?
WTA Hamburg Day 3 Predictions
Jule Niemeier vs Dayana Yastremska
Head-to-head: Niemeier 1-0 Yastremska
Niemeier is having a dismal season with just two Tour-level wins to her name. But the last one was on home soil in Stuttgart. So this should be a comforting territory for the big-hitting Niemeier to add to her tally. Dayana Yastremska is coming off a successful grass swing where she made the final of a warm-up tournament before Wimbledon and then went on to upset Coco Gauff in the first round at SW9. The Ukrainian then took time off to visit a French canyon, but had to cut her vacation short to be in Hamburg. And this isn’t a straightforward match despite Niemeier’s poor form. In fact, the German won their only meeting at last year’s US Open.
Prediction: Niemeier in 3
Tatjana Maria vs Viktoriya Tomova
Head-to-head: Tomova 3-0 Maria
Tatjana Maria’s fitness is admirable. She has already played 47 matches in six and a half months of the season, and she hasn’t had a single retirement. The 37-year-old is also jetting in from a long trip from stateside, where she finished runner-up in the 125K tournament in Newport. If Maria’s endurance is an asset, Viktoriya Tomova has a psychological edge. The Bulgarian owns this matchup and should be expected to preserve her 100% winning record against a fatigued Maria.
Prediction: Tomova in 2
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Ekaterina Alexandrova vs Eva Vedder
Head-to-head: first meeting
Ekaterina Alexandrova took a late wildcard into this tournament. This will be her debut appearance, and she will look to capitalize on a depleted field to win her second title of the season. She is favored to do that, and more so in this opening match against World No. 249 Eva Vedder. The Dutch qualifier is featuring in the main draw of a Tour-level event for a third time. She is 0-2 in her previous two matches at this level and is unlikely to contain Alexandrova’s weight of shot.
Prediction: Alexandrova in 2
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke – USA TODAY Sports
