Just eight women remain in contention at the Guangzhou Open in southern China after a week that has seen plenty of thrilling tennis and shocking upsets so far. But who will book their place in the last four?
Guangzhou Open Quarterfinal Predictions
Samantha Stosur vs Nina Stojanovic
Head-to-head: Stojanovic 1-0 Stosur
Despite her career-high ranking of world #4 and triumph at the 2011 US Open, expectations of Samantha Stosur were fairly low at the Guangzhou Open this week. But so far the Australian wildcard has defied those low expectations, beating Teresa Martincova handily before battling past Bernarda Pera of the USA. Now she finds herself in for what looks to be another tough test up against the in-form Nina Stojanovic. The Serbian may not have massive amounts of experience, but she has played very well to beat Magdalena Frech and sixth seed Zheng Saisai. And after beating Stosur 6-3 6-4 in Nanchang last week, she has good reason to feel confident about her chances in this one.
Prediction: Stojanovic in 3
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Viktorija Golubic vs Zhang Shuai
Head-to-head: Golubic 1-1 Zhang
Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic rallied magnificently to beat fifth seed Katerina Siniakova 4-6 7-5 6-0 in the second round after making an impressive start in her 6-3 6-3 win over Chinese teenager Wang Xiyu. But Zhang Shuai, seeded fourth, has also looked sharp so far at the Guangzhou Open. She opened her campaign with a 6-2 6-4 win over Kateryna Kozlova before avenging three previously unanswered defeats with a 7-5 6-4 victory against Andrea Petkovic. The Chinese clearly enjoys the conditions in Guangzhou and will have the lion’s share of the crowd behind her. That should be enough to see her repeat her August US Open win over Golubic.
Prediction: Zhang in 3
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Marie Bouzkova vs Anna Blinkova
Head-to-head: first meeting
One suspects that this will be the first of many battles to come between this pair. Both women have enjoyed breakthrough seasons and will surely be eager to reach the semifinals at the Guangzhou Open. Marie Bouzkova opened her campaign with a hard-fought 6-3 2-6 7-6 win over Xun Fangying of China before advancing courtesy of top seed Elina Svitolina’s retirement with the Ukrainian trailing 4-6 3-4. Anna Blinkova also benefitted from a retirement when Sara Sorribes Tormo pulled out 6-4 1-6 1-4 behind in her opener and she backed that up by dispatching Aleksandra Krunic. But though she has played well so far, expect the excellent court coverage of Bouzkova to grind her down.
Prediction: Bouzkova in 3
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Sofia Kenin vs Jasmine Paolini
Head-to-head: Kenin 1-0 Paolini
After Svitolina and Wang Qiang’s early exits, third seed Sofia Kenin, who is in the midst of a fine season, will surely view herself as in with a real chance of going all the way in Guangzhou. The American has looked imperious so far, brushing aside Laura Siegemund and Katarina Zavatska. But Jasmine Paolini will be full of confidence after recording four wins already at the Guangzhou Open having come through the qualifying. But she has been pushed hard in all of those matches. She also won just three games in this pair’s only previous meeting. Expect Kenin to emerge a fairly comfortable victor once again.
Prediction: Kenin in 2
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