We are getting closer and closer towards the business end of the tournament. Day 6 at the Mutua Madrid Open brings up enthralling quarterfinal matches for fans to enjoy. Eight players will battle it out for a place in the semifinals.
Mutua Madrid Open Quarterfinal Predictions
Naomi Osaka v Belinda Bencic
Head-to-head record: Bencic leads 2-0
This will be the first big test for Osaka for this tournament. Belinda Bencic has been impressive all week and has dropped only one set. If Bencic can play the high level tennis like she has been all week, Osaka will be in trouble.
Osaka is the favorite coming into this match. However, Bencic beat Osaka a few months ago at Indian Wells in straight sets, so the young Swiss clearly knows the formula how to beat Osaka. Bencic has just been a bit better this week than Osaka in terms of consistency and has a chance of beating the Japanese.
Prediction: Bencic in 3
Sloane Stephens vs Petra Martic
Head-to-head record: Stephens leads 2-0
Martic has been very lucky in terms of the opponents she faced this week: she beat Angelique Kerber via a walkover, and beat Donna Vekic through a retirement midway in the third set.
Martic has played one less match than Stephens, so is possibly more fresh than Stephens who has played back-to-back three-setters already.
Even though Stephens has 2-0 head-to-head advantage, Martic is on a six-match win streak as she won Istanbul on clay a few weeks ago, and is confident in her game is at the moment.
Prediction: Martic in 3
Petra Kvitova vs Kiki Bertens
Head-to-head record: Kvitova leads 3-2
Both players have played extremely well throughout the week–neither of them has yet to drop a set.
Kvitova beat Bertens a few weeks ago in Stuttgart on clay, so she will have a mental advantage over Bertens, which can prove very important in these latter stages of the big tournaments.
Prediction: Kvitova in 2
Simona Halep v Ashleigh Barty
Head-to-head record: Halep leads 2-1
Barty is on a seven-match winning streak and arguably has played better than Halep this season. However, clay is not Barty’s favorite surface, as she prefers the grass and hard courts. Can she upset one of the best clay court players and move through to the semis? It will be a big ask, considering Halep swept past her last opponent, Viktoria Kuzmova, 6-0 6-0 just under 45 minutes.
Halep will have a slight edge coming into this match considering she is more experienced on the red dirt. But it will not be surprising if Barty pushes Halep throughout the match and the match ends up being decided in a close third set.
Prediction: Halep in 3
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