WTA Madrid Day 3 Predictions Including Iga Swiatek vs Xiyu Wang

Emiliana Arango vs Dayana Yastremska

Head-to-head: 1-1

Dayana Yastremska is still looking for the right follow-up to her Australian Open run and the faster clay in Madrid could help her out. She’s facing Emiliana Arango who’s practically an altitude specialist with lots of experience in such conditions coming from Columbia. However, 600-700 meters above sea level in Madrid is far from extreme and isn’t granting Arango as much of an advantage as she had over the rest of the field at the WTA 1000 in Guadalajara. If Yastremska’s locked in, she really shouldn’t struggle here.
Prediction: Yastremska in 2

Elise Mertens vs Sloane Stephens

Head-to-head: 2-2

Sloane Stephens is coming off a very strong set of performances to claim the title in Rouen and while it took over three hours, her win over Martina Trevisan here was also relatively high-quality. The focus from the American can be so up and down, but red clay is her surface after all. She’s yet to play Elise Mertens on it and lost their most recent meeting in Brisbane this year. The Belgian remains a very solid player, but the peak game of Stephens seems a lot more scary.
Prediction: Stephens in 3

Iga Swiatek vs Xiyu Wang

Head-to-head: First meeting

Madrid is the only big event on clay Iga Swiatek hasn’t won yet, but she made the final last year and only played here twice overall. In fact, it might end up being better for her than Stuttgart as while the altitude doesn’t increase her edge over the rest of the field, the bounce should actually be a lot more manageable than at the German indoor venue. Xiyu Wang has some potential and might have a few games where she fights back against her, but it’s keeping that up over an extended patch that will likely be the dealbreaker.
Prediction: Swiatek in 2