As the action continues at WTA Cluj-Napoca, the draw opens up further with a fresh set of first-round matches on the indoor hard courts. Several players arrive carrying momentum from long opening wins, while others will be looking to impose their experience and ranking as the week begins to take shape. As always, we here at LWOT give our predictions and analysis for every match including Anastasia Potapova vs Lucia Bronzetti, but who will advance?

WTA Cluj-Napoca Day 3 Predictions 
Oleksandra Oliynykova vs Anna Bondar

Head-to-head: first meeting 

Oleksandra Oliynykova arrives with plenty of momentum after picking up her first WTA main-draw win here, battling back from a set down to outlast Mayar Sherif in a nearly three-hour contest. That result speaks to her grit, and she’s quietly put together some strong hard-court results at lower levels recently.

Anna Bondar, meanwhile, had to dig deep herself, surviving a three-set battle against Ella Seidel after nearly letting a tiebreak slip away. Their only previous meeting came on clay years ago and went Bondar’s way, and while this is a different surface, her higher ranking and ability to close out tight moments indoors should help her take control when it matters most.

Prediction: Bondar in 3

Yuan Yue vs Sara Sorribes Tormo

Head-to-head: first meeting 

Yuan Yue has built a solid reputation on hard courts, using her clean baseline game and depth to stay in control of rallies. She’s coming in with confidence after a run of consistent results on the surface. Sara Sorribes Tormo will make this physical, as she always does, but indoor hard courts tend to expose her defensive style, with opponents able to hit through the court more easily. Yuan’s ability to step in and dictate should gradually wear Sorribes Tormo down, especially in shorter, faster points.

Prediction: Yuan in 2

Elena-Gabriela Ruse vs Rebeka Masarova

Head-to-head: Ruse 1–0 Masarova 

Elena-Gabriela Ruse will benefit from home-crowd support and has shown in past visits that she’s comfortable playing indoors in Romania with her good timing and counterpunching particularly effective when she finds rhythm. Rebecca Masarova, though, brings a heavier baseline game and has looked more reliable on hard courts recently, particularly in big moments. Having faced each other before, Masarova’s ability to absorb pressure and stay composed when rallies tighten gives her a slight edge in what should be a competitive encounter.

Prediction: Masarova in 3

Wang Xinyu vs Kaitlin Quevedo

Head-to-Head: first meeting 

Wang Xinyu’s hard-court credentials stand out at WTA Cluj-Napoca. She reached a final earlier this season and has backed that up with strong wins against high-quality opposition. Her ability to generate pace from both wings and stay calm under pressure suits indoor conditions well. Kaitlin Quevedo has done well to come through qualifiers and lower-tier events, but this represents a significant step up in terms of sustained pace and experience. If Wang imposes herself early, she should be able to keep control throughout.

Prediction: Wang in 2

Main photo credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports