With just eight women left in contention at the Korea Open, the competition for the title in Seoul is growing fierce. The 2019 season is rapidly drawing to a close and every player left in the draw will surely be desperate to gather some momentum to carry with them into 2020. But who will book their place in the last four?
Korea Open Quarterfinal Predictions
Karolina Muchova vs Priscilla Hon
Head-to-head: Hon 1-0 Muchova
For the second time in their careers, Karolina Muchova and Priscilla Hon will go head-to-head at the Korea Open. In their previous clash in Seoul, which came in 2017, it was the Australian Hon who came out on top as she recorded a 6-1 4-6 6-4 victory in the first round. But it is hard to see a repeat of that result, despite her impressive performances so far in Korea which have seen her storm through the qualifying before beating Mihaela Buzarnescu and fifth seed Ajla Tomljanovic. After an indifferent start against Alison Van Uytvanck, Muchova looked mightily impressive in brushing aside Timea Babos and if she can find that level again, she will almost certainly prove too strong for Hon.
Prediction: Muchova in 2
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Paula Badosa Gibert vs Wang Yafan
Head-to-head: first meeting
Paula Badosa Gibert may not have much hard-court pedigree, but she has looked at home so far this week at the Korea Open. She opened her campaign with a composed 6-4 6-4 win over Jil Teichmann before dismissing qualifier Patricia Maria Tig 6-2 6-4. But she will be in for a stern test up against Acapulco champion Wang Yafan. The Chinese has not quite recaptured the form that took her to the Mexican Open title in March, but she has played some good tennis to beat Danielle Lao and Ysaline Bonaventure. Up against Badosa Gibert, she will need to raise her game, but if she does, she should have enough to advance.
Prediction: Wang in 3
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Kristie Ahn vs Ekaterina Alexandrova
Head-to-head: first meeting
After a superb run to the fourth round at the US Open, Kristie Ahn has continued to impress at the Korea Open. She began her campaign with a superb 6-0 6-0 win over Timea Bacsinszky and backed that up by rallying past Ana Bogdan 0-6 6-4 7-6. Second seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, meanwhile, has been making steady progress through the draw, beating Greet Minnen and Kristyna Pliskova. She has not quite hit the heights that Ahn did in her first-round match, but she has looked the more consistent of the two. And ultimately consistency invariably comes out on top.
Prediction: Alexandrova in 3
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Kirsten Flipkens vs Magda Linette
Head-to-head: first meeting
Kirsten Flipkens has rather rolled back the years so far at the Korea Open with some excellent performances, not least in her straight-sets win over seventh seed Margarita Gasparyan in the round of 16. But she will surely need to be at her very best up against the in-form Magda Linette, who won the title in the Bronx in late August and reached the quarterfinals at the Jiangxi Open last week. She has not yet dropped a set so far this week and looks to be playing with both confidence and composure. Flipkens somewhat unorthodox style may give the Pole pause, but expect her to continue her fine run of form by reaching the quarterfinals.
Prediction: Linette in 2
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