Our WTA Chicago Quarterfinal predictions feature five out of eight seeded players. Will the favourites continue to progress into the semifinals in the Windy City? Here at LWOT we preview and predict all four quarterfinals.
WTA Chicago Quarterfinal Predictions
Tereza Martincova vs Rebecca Peterson
Head-to-head: Peterson 1-0 Martincova
Martincova is having a stellar year, currently at her highest ranking and now battling through the draw in Chicago. Two three-set wins against Cirstea and Hsieh have certainly been harder work than Peterson’s consecutive 2-0 wins. It is a welcome return to form for the Swede showing some real mental fortitude saving set points in two of the four sets she has played. I like the form of Peterson this week and the combination of her clutch play and her slightly better hold percentage on hard courts leads to think she could edge a close one.
Prediction: Peterson in 3
Marta Kostyuk vs Varvara Gracheva
Head-to-head: Kostyuk 3-1 Gracheva
Remarkably, despite Kostyuk’s tender years–the Ukrainian is only 19–this will be the fifth time this pair have met. However, the only previous hard court meeting went comfortably to the teenager. There are signs in the head-to-head that Kostyuk’s game has been a struggle for the Russian. Kostyuk has also been proving a big problem for opponents this week as she has yet to drop a set and only losing serve twice. The Ukrainian should be building towards the top 50 and I expect this match to be a step in that direction.
Prediction: Kostyuk in 2
Marketa Vondrousova vs Alize Cornet
Head-to-head: First meeting
If both players play near to their top ability this could be a cracker. However, Vondrousova could make this very difficult for the Frenchwoman. Both players have relatively similar stats over a long period of time on hard courts but Vondrousova has better recent form in the latter stages of tournaments. Cornet will have her moments and make it a competitive match but I think Vondrousova will be quite focused on winning this one.
Prediction: Vondrousova in 3
Elina Svitolina vs Kristina Mladenovic
Head-to-head: Svitolina 0-2 Mladenovic
The #1 seed has been less than convincing so far in this tournament but has still progressed comfortably enough to this stage. The head-to-head suggests that this will be a tough match for the Ukrainian though. Mladenovic has been able to raise her game and force Svitolina too deep in their previous encounters. However, Svitolina has now won 11 matches in a row at this level of tournament and all other form lines suggest the Ukrainian should be favorite here. I suspect she will progress here and start to turn the head-to-head around.
Prediction: Svitolina in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
