The final eight of WTA Melbourne Summer Set 2 features some surprising names after a couple of upsets in the last round. Fourth seed Sara Sorribes Tormo was beaten soundly by Russian Kamilla Rakhimova. Daria Kasatkina then followed her countrywoman by overcoming a 0-7 head-to-head to notch her first win against Madison Keys. With two favourites for the title gone, this is a real opportunity for the remaining players. Which of them will capitalise on the opportunity? We try to answer exactly that in our WTA Melbourne Summer Set 2 quarterfinal predictions.
WTA Melbourne Summer Set 2 Quarterfinal Predictions
Amanda Anisimova vs Irena-Camelia Begu
Head-to-head: 1 – 0 Anisimova
After a rocky first match, Amanda Anisimova seems to be warming to the task here in Melbourne. She was emphatic in her dismissal of Sorana Cirstea in her last match, giving the Romanian just five games across two sets. Irena-Camelia Begu was less convincing in her victory over Jasmine Paolini, needing three sets to get over the line. Nonetheless, Begu is another tough opponent for Anisimova to face. The American has had arguably the toughest draw so far of the eight players remaining. She has navigated it well though behind clean ball striking and aggression. I expect more of the same here. Anisimova has to much power for Begu and she looks ready to show the world what she can really do in 2022. Expect a comfortable win for the young star here.
Prediction: Anisimova in 2
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Clara Tauson vs Aliaksandra Sasnovich
Head-to-head: First meeting
For those of you waiting on Aliaksandra to find the form that saw her inside the top 50 in the world a few years back, your wait might be over. The Belarusian has played great tennis so far in Melbourne and is yet to drop a set in this tournament across four matches. Granted she hasn’t faced the toughest of opponents in every match, but she has still looked dominant and in control in those easier matches. You couldn’t say that about her last year. However, this match will be a thorough examination of just how close she is to her levels of old. Clara Tauson won two titles last year in her first full season on the WTA Tour. Her level here in Melbourne suggests she is in a rush to get a third. She dropped just one game against Lin Zhu in her last match and will feel confident of her chances in this encounter as well. Both of these players are aggressive and go for their shots which should make for good tennis. If both are at their best, Tauson should edge it as she is the better player. However, this could go either way if either is slightly off. Back the Dane here, but do so cautiously.
Prediction: Tauson in 3
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Kamilla Rakhimova vs Ann Li
Head-to-head: 1-1
Rakhimova’s presence in the last eight is something of a surprise. However, the Russian earned her spot with a close-fought win over #4 seed Sorribes Tormo. She has played aggressive tennis all week and is always looking to get on the front foot which is a great strategy on these fast courts. However, she is facing an equally adept ball striker here in young American star Ann Li. Li has dropped just seven games so far in Melbourne behind some great tennis. If she continues playing the way she has then she’s my pick to lift the trophy here when all is said and done. Rakhimova has had a great run here and is trending in the right direction, but I can’t see her finding enough to beat an in-form and confident Ann Li here.
Prediction: Ann Li in 2
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Daria Kasatkina vs Nuria Parrizas Diaz
Head-to-head: First meeting
So, I didn’t think either of these players would be in this match when I wrote up yesterday’s predictions. Oops. However, both deserve to be here on the back of gutsy performances in their previous matches. Kasatkina is clearly the better player here, but Nuria Parrizas Diaz is enjoying a remarkable run of form very late in her career. The 30 year-old is playing with no fear and she is a real danger to anyone she faces at the moment. That being said, Kasatkina is one of the smarter players in the women’s game and is very adept at finding ways of frustrating her opponents. She may take a while to figure out the Spaniard as the two have never met. Nevertheless, I expect she will in the end. Kasatkina should move on here.
Prediction: Kasatkina in 3
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