Tennis has returned in 2023 and we’re already being treated to some high-quality encounters. Today we’re looking to predict some of the enticing quarterfinal matches at the WTA ASB Classic in Auckland–including matches for Top 10 player Coco Gauff, 2021 US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez and, continuing her comeback from injury, the Czech Karolina Muchova.
WTA Auckland Quarterfinal Predictions
Karolina Muchova vs Rebeka Masarova
Head-to-head: First meeting.
Rebeka Masarova shouldn’t be immediately dismissed – anyone able to beat Sloane Stephens in straight sets has earned that plus she hasn’t expended a ton of energy to get here having won every other match in straight sets too. This doesn’t look like a flash in the pan. Her results improved greatly at the end of the last year. Take two losses to Linda Fruhvirtova as a showcase – she lost 6-0 6-1 at the start of the year and lost in a third-set tiebreak at the end of the year.
Masarova may be playing above her ranking but will she be ready for Karolina Muchova? It’s a question of the Czech’s form more than anything else. Many pundits have always considered Muchova’s best tennis worthy of the top-20. Unfortunately injuries have frequently held her back. These are early days but we’re veering on the side of optimism – a near two-month break will likely have allowed Muchova to make the necessary reparations. Masarova will put up a fight but Muchova should get through.
Prediction: Muchova in 3
Leylah Fernandez vs Ysaline Bonaventure
Head-to-head: First meeting.
Leylah Fernandez got off to a flyer in her first two rounds. 6-1 6-1 against Brenda Fruhvirtova was quickly followed up with a 6-0 6-1 win over Julia Grabher. Fernandez has the kind of tricky game built for these sorts of one-sided wins. She has one of the most promising and unique brands of tennis of the up-and-comers in the women’s game. 2023 could be huge for her.
Ysaline Bonaventure has a much more polished style of aggressive tennis than Fernandez’s last two opponents so at least holding serve won’t be an issue. To boot, Bonaventure is a lefty herself so should be able to neutralise a few of those lefty swinging serves from the Canadian’s racket. She’s also had consistent results of late winning at least three matches at her last five tournaments. We’re not ignoring any of this–Bonaventure could take a set but this is going to be too good a year for Fernandez.
Prediction: Fernandez in 3
Viktoria Kuzmova vs Danka Kovinic
Head-to-head: First meeting.
This is a pretty even match-up so a three-setter seems likely. Danka Kovinic may have more experience than Viktoria Kuzmova deeper in tournaments but Kuzmova has more latent firepower. Yes, the Slovakian was a little lucky to stay in the tournament after a retirement from Raducanu at one set apiece but she showed she deserves to be here with her straight sets wins over Bernarda Pera and Elizabeth Mandlik (the latter in qualifying).
Kovinic’s game is built to break her opponents down but Kuzmova has what it takes to dispatch her given the speed of the courts in Auckland. Pressure may get to her slightly but she should eventually find a way through.
Prediction: Kuzmova in 3
Coco Gauff vs Lin Zhu
Head-to-head: First meeting.
Coco Gauff has left a brutal ending to 2022 in her wake with two fantastic wins over Tatjana Maria and Sofia Kenin. The American has come out firing, in particular showing promising signs from her forehand. Month by month, we’re watching Gauff grow before our very eyes, two measured performances providing the most mature response she could have given to five consecutive losses.
Zhu Lin only just came through Venus Williams and Madison Brengle. Winning a solitary match at a WTA main draw bucked her trend so she’ll be ecstatic at winning two. She’s been trying to break the top-50 for the entirety of her career but her lack of a big weapon has shown against the best in the world. With Gauff’s lapses in concentration growing fewer and farther between, it seems like too big an ask of the Chinese.
Prediction: Gauff in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
