We have reached the quarterfinal stage at the ITF Dubai W100. A number of the world’s top 100 players have gathered to play this lucrative ITF tournament in the Middle East and there are some high-quality match-ups to preview.
Of the eight top 100 players to enter the tournament, only two remain. Ironically they are due to face each other in the quarterfinal round, so there is a big opportunity for lower-ranked players to earn much-needed ranking points and prize money.
ITF Dubai W100 Quarterfinal Predictions
Magdalena Frech vs Daria Snigur
No previous meetings
This could be a match to watch very closely. Daria Snigur is the current junior world #2 and the junior Wimbledon champion of 2019. Still only 17, she has risen to a ranking just outside the top 300. This will surely rise further after her success at this high-level event.
Snigur has played 39 senior tennis matches and won 31 of them. The Ukrainian already has two professional titles to her name, the same as Frech, and more will surely come.
The Pole is only 21 herself but has found breaking out of the #100-#200 ranking bracket very difficult. She has WTA Tour experience, though not in the final stages. Interestingly, her two titles came over the space of two weeks in 2017 but that is now a long time ago for Frech.
Frech has a good record of 7-2 at this tournament and will rightly be confident as the more experienced and higher-ranked player. However, there is no denying the talent of the young Ukrainian. It is exciting to see a bold young talent and Snigur will play her shots and go for the lines. This may be enough to secure victory for the youngster.
Prediction: Snigur in 3
Greet Minnen vs Barbara Haas
No previous meetings
Neither of these players has dropped a set so far in this tournament so both will come into this quarterfinal with high confidence.
Minnen was particularly impressive, beating Vitalia Diatchenko for the loss of only four games. The Belgian is also the higher-ranked player (122 vs 152) and has more recent experience at the highest level.
However, Haas has won nine career titles, including three within the calendar year. Minnen won her only professional title earlier this year, so Haas certainly seems to have the upper hand when it comes to pressure matches.
This match could be very close. Both players have a lot of similarities in terms of their ability on hard court, ranking and style of play. However, Minnen carries a greater level of form into the match and her neat game could be enough to see her through.
Prediction: Minnen in 3
Katarzyna Kawa vs Ana Bogdan
Head-to-head record: Bogdan 1-0 Kawa
Though both players are now ranked in the #120s it would be fair to say that the career paths of this pair of 27-year-olds have been different.
Ana Bogdan was ranked just outside of the top 50 only last year and has made semifinals in multiple WTA International events. By contrast, Kawa made her maiden appearance in the latter stages of a WTA event when almost going all the way and winning the title in Jurmala in July. This superb performance catapulted the Pole’s ranking from outside the top 200 and clearly gave her a great deal of confidence.
Kawa has yet to drop more than four games in a set in this tournament and looks powerful from the back of the court. However, Bogdan produced one of the best performances this week in the second round. The Romanian knocked out Victoria Kuzmova, the second seed, 6-1 6-4. This extended her unbeaten run to seven matches having become champion at Saint-Etienne in November.
It is this run of form that gives Bogdan the edge in this matchup. If Bogdan is getting close to the form that allowed her to sustain a ranking in the top 100 then this should be too much for Kawa.
Prediction: Bogdan in 2
Kristina Mladenovic vs Sara Sorribes Tormo
Head-to-Head Record: Mladenovic 1-1 Sorribes Tormo
The two highest-ranked players left in the draw, and one of them will become a firm favourite for the title after this match.
It is, perhaps, a little surprising to see the Frenchwoman here after the Fed Cup drama only four weeks ago. However, the fact that she is here probably means that she is taking the event very seriously and wants to add to her six titles.
The Spaniard will be a tough opponent. She has defeated her opponents this week comfortably and has beaten Mladenovic in the past.
In playing here in Dubai it is clear that Mladenovic is keen to get her singles game back to the levels of 2017, where she reached the top ten for the first time. It would have been easy for her to become something of a doubles specialist, so it is pleasing to see this effort from Mladenovic.
There may well be many long rallies in this match. Both players are comfortable on the surface and carry good form into the contest. The extra quality though is in the Frenchwoman’s racquet and she is taken to progress to the semifinals.
Prediction: Mladenovic in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
