With 1000 events in the coming weeks and competition from Washington this week, Memphis predictably doesn’t have a very strong field, but it has still been providing some very tight and exciting matches. This Thursday should be no exception, with several interesting matchups to wrap up the tournament’s Round of 16.
WTA Memphis Day 4 Predictions
Kristina Liutova vs Maya Joint
Head-to-head: first meeting
Liutova benefitted from the retirement of the first seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in the first round, but she was still playing well and should have a very good chance here. The 16-year-old looks destined to have a very good career and this might well turn out to be a big breakthrough tournament for her. Joint will surely not make things easy for her though.
Prediction: Liutova in 3
Yexin Ma vs Caty McNally
Head-to-head: first meeting
Although Ma played very well in qualifying and in the first round here, McNally is clearly the better player of the two here and should have quite a considerable edge. If Ma can maintain the level she has shown so far this tournament she could make things interesting, but McNally should pull through in any case under normal circumstances.
Prediction: McNally in 2
Tatiana Prozorova vs Peyton Stearns
Head-to-head: first meeting
The large gap in ranking between the two players certainly doesn’t reflect the current gap in quality, with Prozorova definitely having a very good chance here if she can play her best tennis. She has been in much better form that Stearns recently and could very well make it through here.
Prediction: Prozorova in 3
Sloane Stephens vs Darja Vidmanova
Head-to-head: first meeting
Stephens is very far from the kind of level that made her a Grand Slam champion and looks unlikely to ever get back to it. At this point in their respective careers, this should be a very close matchup, decided by execution on the biggest points.
Prediction: Stephens in 3
Main Photo Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports