The WTA Nottingham Open has been beset with weather disruptions. The tournament is now taking shape, as we reach the last eight. Day 4 saw a good day for the predictions with all four match outcomes correct, and three out of four even getting the right number of sets. Romanian women’s tennis is continuing to show its strength in depth. Their world #211 Elena Gabriela Ruse defied 126 ranking places by seeing off Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic 7-6 4-6 6-4. The Romanian squandered opportunities for a straight sets victory. She will need to take her chances a tad better next match against #1 seed Caroline Garcia.
Here are predictions for each of the quarterfinal matches.
WTA Nottingham Quarterfinal Predictions
Ajla Tomljanovic vs Tatjana Maria
Head-to-head: first meeting
The Australian Tomljanovic definitely benefited from the move indoors again to hard-courts against Harriet Dart. Her serve caused Dart problems after shaky start for Tomljanovic, who prevailed in three sets.
The World #56 won’t afford Tomljanovic the same edge if the match is moved indoors again – she possesses an impressive 139-74 win-loss career record indoors. Additionally, her plus records for the season on grass dates back to 2013. Maria made the semifinals on grass in Surbiton last week. Therefore, the German 31-year-old has recent experience on the surface and should edge this close encounter.
Prediction: Maria in 3
Caroline Garcia vs Elena Gabriela Ruse
Head-to-head: first meeting
Caroline Garcia has had a Brit-paved route to the quarterfinals, beating Naiktha Bains and Maia Lumsden in the first two rounds. Unfortunately, neither of her opponents were able to test the #1 seed’s mettle. Make no mistake, the rugged Romanian Elena Gabriela Ruse will do just that. Garcia will need to find her appetite for a tennis fight. However, a move to indoor hard-courts would favour Ruse based on previous surface record, but either way Garcia should just prevail.
Prediction: Garcia in 3
Maria Sakkari vs Jennifer Brady
Head-to-head: Brady 1-0 Sakkari
A 2016 Rio de Janeiro clay court victory in Brady’s favor represents the pair’s only previous meeting. However, Brady looked in trouble against Sara Sorribes Tormo, who handed her the match through errors in the 2nd round here. Sakkari is playing some slick stuff of late and should prevail and level the head-to-head.
Prediction: Sakkari in 2
Kristina Mladenovic vs Donna Vekic
Head-to-head: Mladenovic 2-1 Donna Vekic
#2 seed Crotian Donna Vekic looked more composed beating lucky loser Chloe Paquet indoors in the 2nd round. Vekic needs to get out there on the grass, where she won the title in 2017. If Vekic is able to do this she should level the head-to-head. Vekic won the last match at the Australian Open this year. She should have too much for the #8 seed Mladenovic, who is playing better but still beats herself up on-court when things go wrong.
Prediction: Vekic in 2
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