Another top seed has tumbled out in WTA Lyon as Caroline Garcia was sent packing by Viktorija Golubic in straight sets in the last round. However, French hopes for a hometown champion are still alive, with three French women still alive in the tournament. Fiona Ferro is now the favourite to take home the trophy. However, young gun and rising star Clara Tauson may well have something to say about that. Who makes the semifinals will certainly be entertaining to watch. We take a look at what you can expect in the next day’s action in our WTA Lyon quarterfinal predictions.
WTA Lyon Quarterfinal predictions
Clara Tauson vs Camilla Giorgi
Head-to-head: First meeting
Clara Tauson is already the star of this week’s action in Lyon. The 18-year-old Danish star started her week by toppling top seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in straight sets. She was equally comfortable in her second round match against Timea Babos. Tauson has looked the best of the field in the tournament so far and has gone from outsider to favourite to win on the back of some quality tennis. The Dane now faces a tricky quarterfinal opponent in in Italian Camilla Giorgi.
Giorgi has been at her powerful best so far in Lyon. She has blasted all comers off the court so far this week. If she can continue to sustain this level she is in with a more than fair chance of winning here. However, Tauson seems unfazed by the pressure and expectation of being a young star. She has played with confidence all week and that is unlikely to change now. This should be a closer match than Tauson’s last outings, but she should still come through if she carries on playing at her current level.
Prediction: Tauson in 3
Greet Minnen vs Viktorija Golubic
head-to-head: First meeting
Minnen has done very well to make it to the quarterfinals in Lyon. She took advantage of a kind first round draw and dispatched Polish player Kawa in straight sets before coming through a tough test against Arantxa Rus. She now faces a player who has done similarly well to come this far in Golubic.
Golubic held on to beat Lapko in her first round encounter before dismantling hometown favourite Caroline Garcia. Garcia was poor in the match, but Golubic did well to end it quickly and never give the French player a way back in. This match should be tight and both will feel they can win it. I think Golubic has the slight edge given the power she can generate on her backhand. Expect that to be the difference here.
Prediction: Golubic in 3
Kristina Mladenovic vs Paula Badosa Gilbert
Head-to-head: First meeting
Mladenovic has become one of the favorites to win the tournament after other top seeds have toppled around her. There were doubts about her ability to resurrect her singles career coming into this year. However, she has looked much improved from the inconsistent player we saw last year. She did well to come through a tricky test against Gasparyan in the last round. Now she must attempt to get past Badosa Gilbert and book a place in the semifinals.
Badosa Gilbert has improved as the week has gone on. Her comfortable straight sets win against Stefanie Voegele is evidence of that. The Spaniard looked comfortable in the match, moving well around the court and rushing her opponent for time. Badosa Gilbert has no real stand out weapons, but she also has no real weaknesses. Given the added pressure on Mladenovic to perform in her home country, I think Badosa Gilbert is likely to perform better in the key moments in this match. It should be tight, but the Spaniard will advance.
Prediction: Badosa Gibert in 3
Fiona Ferro vs Clara Burel
Head-to-head: First meeting
The top seed remaining in the tournament faces a former junior world #1 in a bid to book a place in the semifinal. After a slow start, Ferro has looked every bit the best player remaining in the tournament. Her vicious forehand was in full display against Martincova and she will be happy with her game on the indoor hard courts heading into this match.
Clara Burel will be equally confident. After a wrist injury derailed her attempts to break onto the main tour in 2019, the French starlet has looked impressive so far this week. She clearly has the game to be a mainstay on the WTA Tour in the future. Her match against Ferro is a good test of just how ready her game is. Given how well she has played this week, I expect Burel to put up a good fight. However, Ferro has been one of the best players on the tour over the last six months. She has displayed her immense prowess on clay and will now be keen to show she can do it on hard courts as well. I expect her to have to battle for this, but she should make the semifinals when all is said and done.
Prediction: Ferro in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
