We arrive in the quarterfinals of the 2022 WTA Internazionali Femminilli di Palermo. Some favorites have already been taken out, but seeds 4-8 remain in contention for the title. Who’s the front-runner right now–the in-form Caroline Garcia or the ultra-solid Sara Sorribes Tormo? Who do you think will advance to the semifinals?
WTA Palermo Quarterfinal Predictions
Jasmine Paolini vs Nuria Parrizas-Diaz
Head-to-head: Paolini 1-0
This one seems very tough to predict. Jasmine Paolini started her Palermo campaign with a demolition of Anna Karolina Schmiedlova and was given a walkover by Shuai Zhang in the second round. Nuria-Parrizas Diaz was almost out of the tournament on the first hurdle, saving two match points against Asia Muhammad. While the Spaniard looked better in her second match, it still wasn’t close to the level Paolini showed in round one. With both players coming to Palermo a little out of form, I’ll trust the Italian to maintain her quality here.
Prediction: Paolini in 2
Irina-Camelia Begu vs Diane Parry
Head-to-head: First meeting
Diane Parry is coming. The former junior World No. 1 has been in cracking form in Palermo so far, straight-setting Lauren Davis and Yulia Putintseva. She’s been able to find the right balance in her attacking game and crush that forehand to keep coming out on top. The talent is there and Parry might be getting closer and closer to a breakthrough. Irina-Camelia Begu has the experience but has been uneven enough thus far for me to lean towards the 19-year-old.
Prediction: Parry in 3
Caroline Garcia vs Lucia Bronzetti
Head-to-head: First meeting
Caroline Garcia lost the first set to Elisabetta Cocciaretto without winning a single game, but managed to pull off the comeback. It’s all about the confidence with the former World No. 4 and recently, her results are definitely trending upwards. She took the title at Bad Homburg, made the semifinals at Lausanne, and reached the fourth round at Wimbledon. Lucia Bronzetti is a solid player in the form of her life, but simply with an upside that’s nowhere near the inconsistent, but crazy talented Garcia.
Prediction: Garcia in 3
Anna Bondar vs Sara Sorribes Tormo
Head-to-head: First meeting
Sara Sorribes Tormo was at her best against Leolia Jeanjean, dropping just two games. The Spaniard’s grinding style is very well-suited to clay, even if her shots might lack depth and fail to do damage on it. Is Anna Bondar equipped to handle this? She could be. The Hungarian is coming off a couple of semifinal appearances at Contrexeville and Budapest and wasted no time in the first two rounds here. She’ll give Sorribes Tormo her toughest challenger yet, but I’ll trust the Spaniard’s high tennis acumen to prevail.
Prediction: Sorribes Tormo in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
