As the action continues at the WTA 250 in Jiujiang, several rising names and seasoned Tour players will be aiming to secure their spots in the quarterfinals. The conditions have rewarded aggressive baseline play and quick transitions, meaning players who can control their service games and stay sharp in extended rallies are thriving. Who do you back to progress to the next round?
WTA Jiujiang Day 3 Predictions
Elisabetta Cocciaretto vs Lilli Tagger
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Cocciaretto continues to build confidence as she aims for a stronger finish to the season. Her compact style and low error count make her a tricky opponent for Tagger, who earned her wild card with promising recent results on the ITF circuit. The Austrian brings plenty of energy and fights hard on return, but the step up in pace and experience could prove decisive here. Cocciaretto’s better movement and ability to construct points should give her the edge.
Prediction: Cocciaretto in 2
Ella Seidel vs Tamara Korpatsch
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Seidel has shown steady progress this year, particularly on hard courts, where her improved serve and cleaner timing have yielded encouraging results. Korpatsch, on the other hand, has been more consistent since late summer, using her counterpunching skills and court coverage to wear opponents down. This could be a chess match of patience and placement, but Seidel’s ability to extend rallies and force errors may just tilt things in her favor down the stretch.
Prediction: Seidel in 3
Elena Pridankina vs Viktorija Golubic
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Pridankina showed a lot of poise and a fearless attitude in her first-round win. She strikes cleanly off both wings, but this test against Golubic will demand more precision and tactical awareness. The Swiss has plenty of experience navigating tricky conditions, and her sliced backhand can break an opponent’s rhythm quickly. Unless Pridankina can redline for long stretches, Golubic’s variety and control should prove too steady.
Prediction: Golubic in 2
Yulia Putintseva vs Wushuang Zheng
Head-to-Head: first meeeting
Putintseva remains one of the Tour’s most tenacious competitors, and her recent performances suggest she’s comfortable in these late-season Asian conditions. Zheng, the home wild card, has impressed with her fighting spirit and heavy baseline game, earning valuable crowd support along the way. Still, sustaining rallies against Putintseva’s consistency and retrieving ability is no easy task. The Kazakh tends to thrive when she can draw errors and disrupt rhythm, and that dynamic could play out here again.
Prediction: Putintseva in 2
Main Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports