WTA Budapest Day 3 predictions including Yulia Putintseva vs Claire Liu – Last Word On Sports

June 2, 2023; Paris France; Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) reacts to a point during her match against Sloane Stephens (USA) on day six at Stade Roland-Garros. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports

With Budapest underway, we’ve plunged into the post-Wimbledon clay swing, where many players can earn points for the bench for next year while most of the tour rests. As always, here at LWOT we will preview and predict each match. Who do you think they can win?

WTA Budapest Day 3 Predictions

Kaja Juvan vs. Astra Sharma

Head to head: Juvan 1-0 Sharma

After a difficult year on tour, 22-year-old Kaja Juvan finally found some form at Wimbledon, qualifying to reach the second round. The Slovenian managed to do the same in Budapest, beating Kristina Kucova in the first round. Sharma, also a qualifier, has been on a roll recently, reaching finals in a W40 at Ystad and a W60 at Montpellier. The Australian has brought her fine form to Budapest, losing just five games in qualifying before beating Kamilla Rakhimova 6-3 6-3. Juvan allowed Sharma just one game in the first meeting in Bol four years ago, but in current form, I see the Aussie taking it.

Prediction: Sharma in 3
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Anna Karolina Schmiedlova vs. Tamara Korpatsch

Head to head: Schmiedlova 2-2 Korpatsch

After reaching the fourth round at Roland Garros, Schmiedlova was unsurprisingly winless on grass, but the Slovak has won again on clay, allowing Polina Kudermetova just two games. Korpatsch has had a bad year but made it to the second round as a lucky loser at Wimbledon. The German then lost the first round in Contrexeville, but earned her first victory in Budapest since 2017 over Valentini Grammatikopolou. The two have split their previous four meetings equally, so this matchup could really go either way. In clay form, I’m taking Schmiedlova here.

Prediction: Schmiedlova in 2
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Tatjana Maria vs. Fanny Stollar

Head to head: Maria 1-0 Stollar

Maria snapped a four-match losing streak, but had a tough time against No. 185 Carole Monnet. Stollar was once a huge talent, but now, at 24, she sits outside the Top 400. The Hungarian has a decent chance here, though with Maria’s recent struggles and the crowd behind her, I’ll be pulling the plug here.

Prediction: Stollar in 3
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Yulia Putintseva vs. Claire Liu

Head to head: Putintseva 2-0 Liu

Putintseva faces Liu for the third time this year, winning 6-2, 6-4 in Hobart and 6-4, 6-4 in Madrid, both in the first round. The Kazakh is the best player on red clay and has been in fine form, knocking out Beatriz Haddad Maia in her first-round loss at Wimbledon before reaching the Bastad semifinals. Putintseva got off to a funky start in Budapest, losing the first set of hers 6-1 to Kateryna Volodko before turning it around to win 1-6 6-2 6-1. Liu avenged her loss to Louisa Chirico last week, winning 6-4 6-4 in the first round. Putintseva is a solid favorite here.

Prediction: Putintseva in 2

Feature photo credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports