The quarterfinal day of the Nature Valley Classic is finally upon us and we have some tasty matchups on offer, with Ashleigh Barty vs Venus Williams the biggest match of all. Ashleigh Barty needs three more victories this week to claim the World No.1 ranking so there are huge implications in this one. Join me as I analyse the four Birmingham quarterfinals.
WTA Birmingham Day 5 Predictions
Barbora Strycova vs Kristyna Pliskova
Head to head: Strycova leads 2-0
This quarterfinal features a battle between two Czech players, although their games are opposites of each other’s. Pliskova had the most unique of matches last round as she edged past her sister Karolina in a difficult, nervy encounter. The question is whether there will be a mental and emotional letdown after how much she invested into that match. She gets by through ferocious power on a difficult left-handed serve, and will naturally look to be ending points in two or three heavy groundstrokes.
Strycova’s versatile array of beautiful skills is usually fully on show when it comes to implementing her game on a grass court. She’ll try to make things difficult with her shot placement, her efficiency in the forecourt, and making Pliskova play so many different points in order to stunt her rhythm completely. Strycova will know that if she tries to match Pliskova from baseline to baseline she could be on the receiving end of superior power. I think Strycova’s good feeling about Birmingham and her great tennis IQ in this sort of match-up on this surface will see her through.
Prediction: Strycova in 2
Petra Martic vs Jelena Ostapenko
Head to head: Martic leads 1-0
This is another battle displaying two very different styles. Martic is a player that really uses her variation well, but also profits from quicker surfaces because it gives her forehand that little bit of extra zip that enables her to hold her own a little bit more against the more powerful foes. The problem for her is that she’s playing a Grand Slam champion that has been on fire this week.
Ostapenko has committed to her high-risk game-style this week, but peculiarly has managed somehow to play with control alongside the aggression. Martic’s tendency to change the rotations and spin on the ball is something that will prevent Ostapenko from seeing the same, predictable ball, but I just don’t see Ostapenko having a bad day just yet. She’s seeing the ball well and surprisingly has held things together on her second serve this week.
Prediction: Ostapenko in 2
Julia Goerges vs Yulia Putintseva
Julia Goerges plays the surprise package of the entire event in the quarterfinal as she looks to push her way past Putintseva of Kazakhstan. Goerges’ results have taken a bit of an upturn this week as she continues to prove herself on this surface. Crucially, her serving performances have got better gradually. Putintseva scored perhaps her biggest ever win in her long career by carving her way past Osaka, and she’ll need all of that variety and work ethic to find a way past the German as well.
The surprising factor in Putintseva’s win over Osaka was that her footwork on the grass was better than it ever has been in previous years. Her game is built around defensive efficiency but on the grass that had been missing somewhat. I think Goerges will test that out far better than what Osaka was able to do. I just can’t see the German gifting as much on serve and off the ground as what the Japanese star did. In fast conditions with Goerges holding far greater groundstroke power, you have to give the nod to the German.
Prediction: Goerges in 2
Ashleigh Barty vs Venus Williams
Head to head: Barty leads 1-0
This is without a doubt the most compelling of encounters in the quarterfinal line-up. Barty has slowly been finding her service range as the tournament has progressed, but has done most of her damage in her consistent ball-striking off the ground. Facing Williams is another step up though, and although she can’t quite match the American in terms of experience on any surface, she can definitely hold her own when it comes to confidence on this surface.
Williams was dismissive in beating Qiang Wang in the second round. However, there are certain areas to her baseline game that can be exploited if Barty plays it right. Williams sometimes does have problems if her forehand is rushed enough with penetrating groundstrokes. Another thing to look out for is the percentage of first serves played. Venus tends to have matches where the standards dip in that area, and that won’t be enough if Barty returns like she did in her last match. These two did meet in Cincinnati in 2017, where Barty prevailed in three sets. It should be fascinating to see this matchup now with Barty having newfound confidence as a fellow Major winner.
Prediction: Barty in 2
Main Photo from Getty
Disagree with our Birmingham predictions? Let us know any other thoughts you have about Birmingham and the Nature Valley Classic in the comments.
