Only three seeds remain in Parma following Wednesday’s matches. Maria Sakkari and Irina-Camelia Begu lead the remaining eight players in the charge for the title. However, the likes of Ana Bogdan and Jasmine Paolini are perfectly poised to upset the status quo. All eight players are in action on Thursday and it should be a great day of tennis. As ever, we take a stab at calling a winner in each match in our WTA Parma quarterfinal predictions.
WTA Parma Quarterfinal Predictions
Irina-Camelia Begu vs Ana Bogdan
Head-to-head: First meeting
This all-Romanian matchup features two of the favourites for the tournament. Both Bogdan and Begu are great clay court players in some of the best form of their careers. It is a little surprising that they’ve never faced each other before, but we should be in for some great tennis in their first meeting. Begu looked shaky in her last match and is likely fatigued having played and won seven matches in a row. She’s lost just one set over that spell and comes into this one the deserving favourite. However, Bogdan has the game and the confidence to topple her compatriot and I suspect she just might do so.
Prediction: Bogdan in 3
Mayar Sherif vs Lauren Davis
Head-to-head: 1 – 0 Davis
Mayar Sherif has been the better player of the two here over the last twelve months. However, Lauren Davis is a real fighter who has shown top 30 level tennis at times in her career. The American isn’t a household name on clay, but has looked good so far this week. Sherif has more upside and more power off the ground. While that doesn’t matter as much on clay, being able to hit through your opponent often enough counts for something. I expect that to prove the difference in what should be a closely contested match.
Prediction; Sherif in 3
Jasmine Paolini vs Danka Kovinic
Head-to-head: 2 – 1 Kovinic
Danka Kovinic took advantaged of Sloane Stephens having (another) off night to make her way into the quarterfinals here. She now faces the last Italian left in the draw in Jasmine Paolini. Paolini has looked great this week and will like her chances of a title run given how kindly the draw has broken for her. Kovinic is no slouch, but the diminutive Italian loves the clay and will have the home crowd to lean on in tough moments. This should be another close affair, but I think Paolini has it in her to go deep in Parma.
Prediction: Paolini in 2
Maria Sakkari vs Maryna Zanevska
Head-to-head: 1 – 0 Sakkari
Sakkari again shrugged off a slow start to beat Arantxa Rus in her last match. She now faces an even tougher test in Maryna Zanevska. The Belgian has cooled off a bet in recent months but was playing the best tennis of her life not long ago. That being said, grinding out a few tough wins should be good for Maria Sakkari’s confidence. If the Greek can find a bit of belief in her game she will be hard to stop here. She has all the physical tools to best anyone left in the draw and can go to a level few in the WTA can match when she’s on. The question is, will her mind get in the way of that happening? I think not in this case, with two hard-earned wins proving the catalyst for some great tennis from the Greek.
Prediction: Sakkari in 2
