The last 16 of the WTA Melbourne Summer Set 2 tournament all take to the court on Thursday. The likes of Amanda Anisimova and Sara Sorribes Tormo will be looking for strong starts to their 2021 campaigns. Standing in their way are first-time title hopefuls such as Claire Liu, as well as veterans hoping to jumpstart their careers after poor 2020/2021 seasons such as Madison Keys. Who will we see in the quarterfinals? We try and answer exactly that in our WTA Melbourne Summer Set 2 day 3 predictions.
WTA Melbourne Summer Set 2 Day 3 Predictions
Nuria Parrizas Diaz vs Claire Liu
Head-to-head: 1 – 0 Parrizas Diaz
Claire Liu put on a great display to beat Marta Kostyuk in three sets in her first round match here in Melbourne. She now has three wins under her belt after coming through qualifying. Nuria Parrizas Diaz had an easier first round match in Ellen Perez but still did well to come through it in straight sets. The Spaniard leads the head-to-head here, having beaten Liu last year. However, that match was on clay, a surface Parrizas Diaz is far more comfortable on. The opposite is true on hard courts and Liu will definitely like her chances here. This will likely be a close fought affair but I expect the American to edge it.
Prediction: Liu in 3
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Clara Tauson vs Lin Zhu
Head-to-head: First meeting
Lin Zhu extender her win streak to seven after edging out Samantha Stosur in two tie-break sets. However, Clara Tauson represents a far tougher task and looks to be in the mood after a convincing first round win. The Dane is a rising star on the WTA tour and many expect her to be going deep in tournaments this year. That should start here with a place in the quarterfinal. Zhu’s current form might be enough for her to take a set, but I don’t expect her to be able to match Tauson’s level for long enough to win two. Back the Danish star to advance here.
Prediction: Tauson in 3
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Sara Sorribes Tormo vs Kamilla Rakhimova
Head-to-head: First meeting
Sorribes Tormo needed three sets to best Beatriz Hadda Maia in her first match of the tournament. By contrast, Kamilla Rakhimova has won three matches in a row without dropping a set to book a place in the last 16. Nonetheless, it is the Spaniard who enters this match as the deserving favourite. Sorribes Tormo had a career year in 2021, beating several high profile players and capturing her first WTA title. Rakhimova may be a young player on the rise, but this is a step to far for the Russian. She will struggle to hit through the brick wall that is Sorribes Tormo’s defence and too many errors from trying to do exactly that should see the Spaniard win comfortably here.
Prediction: Sorribes Tormo in 2
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Amanda Anisimova vs Sorana Cirstea
Head-to-head: 1 – 0 Anisimova
Anisimova has been rather unfortunate as far as her draw for this tournament. The young American is trying to find her feet again after rough campaigns in 2020 and 2021. That hasn’t been aided by a first round match against the streaky and dangerous Alison Van Uytvanck. Anisimova managed to see off the Belgian in three sets only to now face Sorana Cirstea in the second round. The Romanian is equally streaky and capable of beating almost anyone on her day. She also looked in great touch in her first match against Varvara Gracheva. None of this bodes well for Anisimova. However, the American has the game to win this easily if she can find her best tennis for two sets. I don’t think she is there just yet, but I think she will find it often enough to edge this in three.
Prediction: Anisimova in 3
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