WTA Madrid Day 4 Predictions Including Barbora Krejcikova vs Jaqueline Cristian

Daria Kasatkina vs Cristina Bucsa

Head-to-head: First meeting

Kasatkina has reached three finals this season, including a few weeks ago on the green clay in Charleston. She was unlucky to run into Jelena Ostapenko, Elena Rybakina and Danielle Collins when all three were firing in those finals. Bucsa played well in front of her home fans to beat qualifier Harriet Dart in the last round, but clay is not her favourite surface. She does not possess the weapons to hurt Kasatkina, whose superb movement and consistency will wear down the Spaniard if she is anywhere close to her best.
Prediction: Kasatkina in 2

Marta Kostyuk vs Mayar Sherif

Head-to-head: Kostyuk 2-1 Sherif

Kostyuk is one of the breakout players of the season so far, with a runner-up finish in Stuttgart last week her latest achievement. Sherif is a true clay-court specialist, but she has not played many matches in 2024 due to injury. The Egyptian needs to be fully sharp and hit her forehand excellently to have a chance of overcoming Kostyuk. Unfortunately for Sherif, it is very difficult to envisage that happening with so few matches in her legs this year.
Prediction: Kostyuk in 2

Barbora Krejcikova vs Jaqueline Cristian

Head-to-head: Krejcikova 1-0 Cristian

This is a tricky first match back for Krejcikova. Cristian made the quarterfinal in Charleston a few weeks ago and has now won three matches in Madrid since the qualifying round. The Romanian is a clean ball-striker and Krejcikova’s complete style of tennis needs to be functioning well to prevail. Even a player as good as the Czech may find it difficult to adjust to Cristian’s shots after such a long time out. A combination of Krejcikova’s rustiness and Cristian’s strong form give the Romanian a strong chance of winning.
Prediction: Cristian in 3