There should be plenty of entertaining tennis on quarterfinals day at the WTA Serbia Open, particularly as there are still three round of 16 matches left to finish in Belgrade. Every player still standing in the draw will understandably be desperate to maintain their momentum ahead of the French Open, which starts in just ten days. But who will book their place in the semifinals?
WTA Serbia Open Quarterfinal Predictions
Nadia Podoroska vs Ana Konjuh
Head-to-head: first meeting
Nadia Podoroska was not at her best in the early weeks of the season, but since returning to the European clay the Argentine has found some form. In Rome, she beat Serena Williams in straight sets in the second round only to fall short in the third round against Petra Martic, and she has looked sharp once again so far in Belgrade. She opened her campaign with a 6-2 4-6 6-3 win over Hungary’s Timea Babos and she then dismissed Nadia Podoroska 6-2 6-3.
However, Ana Konjuh should not be underestimated. The Croatian started her week in the qualifying, beating both Jule Niemeier and Viktoriya Tomova from a set down to reach the main draw. She then edged out Alison Van Uytvanck in three sets to set up a quarterfinal clash with second seed Yulia Putintseva, which she won 6-3 6-4. However, Podoroska has the greater clay-court pedigree. Expect a close contest, but for the Argentine to come out on top.
Prediction: Podoroska in 3
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Paula Badosa vs Rebecca Peterson
Head-to-head: first meeting
Rebecca Peterson, after a miserable campaign in 2020, has found at least a measure of form so far in 2021. The Swede arrived at the WTA Serbia Open with six wins to her name from 11 matches and she has since added victories over Nina Stojanovic, from a set down, and Ajla Tomljanovic, although the Australian did retire after just three games of the third set. However, she looks to be facing a tough test up against Paula Badosa.
The Spaniard has been in excellent form of late, enjoying a career-best result at the WTA Madrid Open, where she reached the semifinals and picked up wins over Anastasija Sevastova and eighth seed Belinda Bencic, amongst others. She has backed that up with wins over assured straight-sets wins over Andrea Petkovic and Mihaela Buzarnescu. Indeed, she has been playing well enough that it is hard to see her charge in Belgrade being stopped by Peterson.
Prediction: Badosa in 3
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