With four intriguing quarterfinals on the slate at the WTA Cleveland Open, expect an exciting day of tennis in Ohio. As always, we here at LWOT are offering our preview and prediction for all four quarterfinals, but who will secure their spot in the semifinals?
WTA Cleveland Quarterfinal Predictions
Aliaksandra Sasnovich vs Madison Brengle
Head-to-head: Brengle 2-0 Sasnovich
After a string of first-round losses, Madison Brengle found some form in Toronto, coming through the qualifying, snapping a six-match losing streak in the process. She has backed that up with a quarterfinal showing in Vancouver and now another run to the last eight at the WTA Cleveland Open. Brengle’s path to the last eight hasn’t been easy, but the American has impressed in her wins over Varvara Gracheva and Ekaterina Alexandrova.
Aliaksandra Sasnovich will be a test, however. The seventh seed secured her place in the last eight with wins over Aleksandra Krunic and Sara Sorribes Tormo to bounce back from her first-round loss in Cincinnati. This will be the pair’s third meeting, but their first in nearly eight years. Brengle did win their previous two matches, but it is hard to put too much stock in matches that were played so long ago. Sasnovich has looked sharper so far this week. Expect her to just about have the edge.
Prediction: Sasnovich in 3
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Alize Cornet vs Zhang Shuai
Head-to-head: Cornet 4-3 Zhang
In the latest instalment of what has been a fairly storied rivalry, Alize Cornet will take on Zhang Shuai for a spot in the last four in Cleveland. Cornet, who has had the better of the rivalry with four wins to Zhang’s three, has impressed so far in Cleveland, dismissing Dayana Yastremska in the first round for the loss of only three games before beating Clara Tauson 6-3 7-6. Zhang has accounted for Katerina Siniakova, also for the loss of only three games before benefitting from Martina Trevisan’s withdrawal.
There does not look to be a great deal in this match. As mentioned above, there has been little to split them in the past, and both have impressed so far at the WTA Cleveland Open. But Zhang has been in better form of late and arrived in Cleveland fresh from a run to the quarterfinals across Ohio in Cincinnati. If she can maintain the level she has displayed across the last two weeks, expect her to be the player to reach the semifinals in Cleveland.
Prediction: Zhang in 3
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Magda Linette vs Ludmilla Samsonova
Head-to-head: first meeting
Magda Linette has posted some good results in the week before the US Open, winning the first title of her career in at the WTA Bronx Open three years ago and she is threatening another title run this year in Cleveland. The Pole has impressed in wins over Yulia Putintseva and Sorana Cirstea, beating both in straight sets, and will surely come into this match with real confidence. But Ludmilla Samsonova should not be underestimated.
The Russian has hardly dropped a game so far this week, nevermind a set, posting a 6-1 6-0 win over Iryna Shymanovich before thrashing Laura Siegemund 6-1 6-2. The only real concern for Samsonova is that she may be slightly undercooked after such comfortable victories. Particularly when coming up against a player who has looked very good herself in Linette. Expect a close encounter with Linette’s court-coverage perhaps drawing enough errors from Samsonova’s racket to earn the Pole a semifinal spot.
Prediction: Linette in 3
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Sofia Kenin vs Bernarda Pera
Head-to-head: first meeting
It is too early to call this a renaissance for Sofia Kenin, but it has been an encouraging week for the former-world #4 all the same. Kenin started her week in Cleveland by battling past the big serving Dalayna Hewitt 6-3 6-4 and she built on that result by upsetting fifth seed Irina-Camelia Begu in a commanding second-round performance. Standing between her and a place in the quarterfinals is her compatriot Bernarda Pera.
The 27-year-old is having a very fine week herself, picking up wins over Japan’s Ezi Hozumi and top seed Barbora Krejcikova, both in comprehensive fashion. Still, if Kenin can play her best tennis, she will surely have too much for Pera. The problem for Kenin is that it has been a very long time since she played her best tennis. Pera has been performing that much more consistently than Kenin and expect it to be her that reaches the last four.
Prediction: Pera in 3
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