The WTA Luxembourg Open has been blessed with an exciting quarterfinal line-up. It doesn’t get much better than this at a WTA 250 event. The top three seeds will all be in action, each facing challenging opposition, will they survive?
WTA Luxembourg Quarterfinal Predictions
(3) Jelena Ostapenko vs Alize Cornet
Head-to-Head: Cornet 2-1 Ostapenko
Friday’s at the WTA Luxembourg Open begins with a match-up of contrasting styles: power vs. variety. Jelena Ostapenko was far from her best in the previous round, requiring three sets to get the better of world #300 Arianne Hartono, an improved effort will be required if she is to maintain her perfect record in Luxembourg having won the title in 2019. Conversely, Alize Cornet eased through her first couple of matches this week with straight set victories over Anastasia Potapova and Mandy Minella.
Cornet has beaten Ostapenko in each of their previously completed meetings, including a dominant 6-1 6-2 victory in St. Petersburg last year when they last met. Cornet has the versatility and consistency to her game that makes her a problematic match-up for Ostapenko. This is especially true on a quicker surface where Ostapenko has less time to react, Cornet’s shots have more pop on them on a fast hard court, so she is better equipped to rush the Latvian. Cornet seems more likely to prevail here given their respective form this week.
Prediction: Cornet in 3
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Marie Bouzkova vs Clara Tauson
Head-to-head: first meeting
Clara Tauson continues to climb the WTA standings. The Dane won her first career title earlier this year in Lyon, more recently she captured the 125K title in Chicago where she defeated Emma Raducanu – now the US Open champion – in the final. The 18-year-old is looking dangerous this week on the indoor hard courts at the WTA Luxembourg Open, a commanding a straight set win over Astra Sharma was followed by a hard-fought three set win over the fourth seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova. A different type of challenge presents itself to the world #70 in the form of Marie Bouzkova.
Tauson wasn’t given much rhythm in her first few matches this week against aggressive opponents, Bouzkova’s speed and consistency around the court looms as a tougher challenge for Tauson. Bouzkova hasn’t been in the best form of late but has claimed a pair of decent wins this week, a three set win over the sixth seeded Shuai Zhang, before dominating Greet Minnen in straight sets. This is a tough match to call, one that could easily go either way, depending on who plays better on the day. I’ll give the slight edge to Bouzkova as her style is likely to frustrate Tauson and potentially catch her off guard in their first career meeting.
Prediction: Bouzkova in 3
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(1) Belinda Bencic vs (7) Ludmilla Samsonova
Head-to-head: Samsonova 1-0 Bencic
Belinda Bencic is one of the form players on tour. The 24-year-old’s gold medal run in Tokyo last month was the biggest moment of her career, a pair of quarter-final appearances in Cincinnati and the US Open has consolidated her strong form. Bencic received a bye through the first round this week then comfortably accounted for Zarina Diyas in straight sets, dropping just four games in a match that lasted a mere 60 minutes. Awaiting Bencic in the next round is a familiar opponent. Ludmila Samsonova beat Bencic earlier this year in the final in Berlin on grass; a 1-6 6-1 6-3 win for the powerful Russian.
Samsonova is yet to drop a set this week having defeated Misaki Doi and Oceane Dodin in straight sets, Bencic presents as a much tougher opponent for the 22-year-old. Samsonova possesses greater firepower, especially behind her serve, and has the more aggressive style. However, Bencic thrives on pace, she absorbs and redirects power better than most, especially on a relatively quick hard court such as the surface in Luxembourg. Expect a red-hot Bencic to avenge her Berlin final loss to the Russian.
Prediction: Bencic in 2
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(2) Elise Mertens vs (5) Marketa Vondrousova
Head-to-head: Mertens 2-1 Vondrousova
The final match-up of the day is the toughest on paper. Elise Mertens will be given a stern examination by an in-form Marketa Vondrousova. Mertens received a bye through the opening round before labouring past Aliaksandra Sasnovich 3-6 6-2 7-5, continuing a recent trend of struggling against lower ranked opponents. Vondrousova has had no such struggles this week, the Czech has waltzed into the final 8 with straight set wins over Alison Van Uytvanck and Jana Fett.
Vondrousova undoubtedly has the better form of the pair heading into this clash, but the Tokyo silver medallist has a negative head-to-head record in this match-up for a reason. Vondrousova relies on her consistency and versatility to unsettle her opponents, but that’s not necessarily going to be successful against Mertens. Mertens is happy grind away from the back of the court and wait for her chance to be the aggressor. Each of their previous 3 meeting were all close matches, expect the same thing here. Mertens isn’t in the best of form but she’s still generally the tougher of the two, and more likely to prevail in the tight moments due to her greater discipline.
Prediction: Mertens in 3
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