The WTA 500 in Berlin is down to its final eight players, producing some very exciting quarterfinal match-ups. As one of the two biggest events in the lead-up to Wimbledon, the players all want the momentum coming into the Slam. As always, we here at LWOT will preview and predict every match. Who will go to the semifinals?
WTA Berlin Quarterfinals Predictions
Ons Jabeur vs Aliaksandra Sasnovich
Head-to-head: Jabeur 2-0 Sasnovich
After flaming out in the first round of Roland Garros, Jabeur has reset and looked very good in Berlin so far. The Tunisian defeated the dangerous Karolina Muchova in straight sets and did not stumble against youngster Alycia Parks either. Sasnovich, one of two unseeded players in the quarterfinals, took advantage of Garbine Muguruza’s early exit. The Belarusian is into her first quarterfinal on grass after wins over Anastasia Gasanova and Andrea Petkovic. Jabeur had to come back from a set down in both of her previous main tour victories over Sasnovich, only defeating her in straight sets back in 2011 at the Junior Roland Garros. Despite Sasnovich troubling Jabeur in the past, I believe the top seed will pull through.
Prediction: Jabeur in 3
Daria Kasatkina vs Maria Sakkari
Head-to-head: Kasatkina 4-0 Sakkari
Kasatkina’s variety means that despite being mostly a defensive player, she is effective on grass. The 25-year-old has a Wimbledon quarterfinal and Birmingham final under her belt. Kasatkina has had to come back from a set down in both of her Berlin matches, defeating Anhelina Kalinina and Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-1 in the third. Sakkari has struggled since the Indian Wells final, enduring a poor clay season. She won a couple of matches in Nottingham before losing to eventual champion Beatriz Haddad Maia and in Berlin the Greek has beaten Leolia Jeanjean and Daria Saville, yet to earn an impressive grass win. Kasatkina owns the head-to-head, winning all four previous meetings, including at Madrid earlier this year, and is also the superior grass player, making her the favorite.
Prediction: Kasatkina in 2
Belinda Bencic vs Veronika Kudermetova
Head-to-head: Bencic 4-4 Kudermetova
These two players have a long history between each other going back to the Juniors, where Bencic beat Kudermetova in their three meetings before the pros. On the main tour, it has been much more competitive between the two, splitting their first eight meetings 4-4. The match-up has yielded its best battles on hard court, with the Doha 2020 and Dubai 2021 memorable, as well as the St. Petersburg meeting earlier this year. Most importantly, Kudermetova defeated Bencic in straight sets last week, taking their grass head-to-head to 2-1. Bencic, a defending finalist here in Berlin, has struggled in her first two rounds, dropping sets to Anna Kalinskaya and Jule Niemeier. Kudermetova has also dropped sets, though to more impressive opposition in Aryna Sabalenka and Ludmilla Samsonova. As always, we should expect an entertaining match though Kudermetova is the favorite for me this time.
Prediction: Kudermetova in 3
Karolina Pliskova vs Coco Gauff
Head-to-head: Pliskova 1-0 Gauff
The most star-studded match-up in the quarterfinals, the old guard against the new. Pliskova, the defending Wimbledon finalist and owner of three WTA titles on grass, has not been at her best since coming back from injury in March, with an 8-8 record this season. She has looked better on grass though, overcoming Kaia Kanepi in the first round before winning an incredible third-set tiebreak battle against Bianca Andreescu. Gauff has taken a new step in her development, reaching her first slam final at just 18 years old in Paris. The American enjoyed an easier draw than Pliskova, not dropping a set against Ann Li or Xinyu Wang. Pliskova has more grass experience but Gauff has been showing a higher level than Pliskova this season.
Prediction: Gauff in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
