The bottom half of the draw will be in action for their second-round matches on Day 3 of the WTA Cincinnati Open. This article features Amanda Anisimova, the ninth seed, and crowd favorite Alexandra Eala. As always, we at LWOT will offer predictions for every match on the slate, but which players will advance?
WTA Cincinnati Day 3 Predictions
Jelena Ostapenko vs Magdalena Frech
Head-to-Head: Ostapenko 2-0 Frech
Jelena Ostapenko retired in Toronto against Zhang Shuai amid illness but is expected to be ready for her second-round match here. The Latvian is making her 10th main-draw appearance here but doesn’t have any notable runs to show. She does have the game and talent to overwhelm anyone when she is dialled in, but it happens less often on hard courts. Magdalena Frech got a good win in the first round and is playing at a high level. Frech’s steadiness and ability to extend rallies could frustrate Ostapenko if the Latvian is erratic.
Prediction: Frech in 3
Diana Shnaider vs Tatjana Maria
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Diana Shnaider reached the quarterfinals in Toronto with impressive wins over Anna Kalinskaya and Jessica Pegula before falling to eventual champion Iga Swiatek. She seems to have found her hard court game, and I expect her to beat Tatjana Maria, who lost just three games to Dayana Yastremska in the first round, but this is a completely different matchup.
Prediction: Shnaider in 2
Alexandra Eala vs Elena-Gabriela Ruse
Head-to-Head: Eala 0-1 Ruse
Alexandra Eala won her first WTA title in Washington and was understandably fatigued in Toronto. She still won two matches there, which shows her grit and fighting spirit. She has had a decent amount of rest since her last match, and I expect her to show her best tennis here. Elena-Gabriela Ruse defeated Eala in 2024, but the Filipina is a much better player now. Eala’s aggressive returns will put a lot of pressure on Ruse’s serve, and I expect multiple breaks from the #17 seed.
Prediction: Eala in 3
Amanda Anisimova vs Zeynep Sonmez
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Zeynep Sonmez advanced with a comeback win over Daria Kasatkina, saving a match point in the second set. Sonmez’s serve was missing in the first set, and she can’t afford to do that against Amanda Anisimova. The American is an aggressive player and will be looking to dictate with serve and powerful groundstrokes. The start will be key in this match, and if Anisimova gets ahead, she might run away with this.
Prediction: Anisimova in 2
Main Photo Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images