All eyes are on the grass-court warm-up events before the third major of the year. We’ve already seen some stories developing at the WTA event in Berlin. Is Veronika Kudermetova playing well enough to be a threat at Wimbledon after defeating Aryna Sabalenka? Will Petra Kvitova be in contention for a third Wimbledon title? As always at LWOT, we’ve tried to predict the results on this fascinating quarterfinals day.
WTA Berlin Quarterfinals Predictions
Veronika Kudermetova vs Ekaterina Alexandrova
Head-to-head: 2-2
It was absolutely nip and tuck last week in the s’Hertogenbosch final but Ekaterina Alexandrova managed to pip Veronika Kudermetova to the post in a third-set tiebreak. Will we see a repeat result? Both players own serves like cannons making them incredibly difficult to break whether or not their opponents are hitting well.
We don’t think it’s a coincidence Alexandrova was able to beat Kudermetova to the finish line. She’s got just a little more firepower in her flat strikes, perfect for hitting through near anybody on this surface. With the Russians and Belarusians allowed to play this year, look out for both players come Wimbledon.
Prediction: Alexandrova in 3.
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Donna Vekic vs Elina Avanesyan
Head-to-head: First meeting
Elina Avanesyan scraped through both Daria Kasatkina and Anna Blinkova by the skin of her teeth here in Berlin. Neither player was capable of using their serve to reliably to knock the lucky loser off of her stride.
Donna Vekic won’t make the same mistake. She played an incredibly polished match against last year’s Wimbledon champion, Elena Rybakina. This is a fairly kind draw given the power Vekic possesses.
Prediction: Vekic in 2.
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Maria Sakkari vs Marketa Vondrousova
Head-to-head: Vondrousova 1-0 Sakkari
Maria Sakkari could be considered by some to be mentally fragile. She’s certainly got a tendency to get tight later in tournaments but she actually has plenty of mental fortitude to fall back on. She is particularly good at serving her way out of trouble–on grass, this is an invaluable skill to have. Against Cornet, she saved 13/15 break points; against Sasnovich, she saved 4/4; this is a surface that rewards her first-strike style of pressure play.
Marketa Vondrousova is always dangerous. She’s taken down Andreescu and Niemeier in straight sets, two players with great grass games. She has the weaponry to bring out the worst in Sakkari if the conditions are slow enough. On grass, however, the Greek will probably have just enough to assert her own game.
Prediction: Sakkari in 3.
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Caroline Garcia vs Petra Kvitova
Head-to-head: Kvitova 5-4 Garcia
Two of the biggest hitters left in the tournament will play in a rematch of last year’s Cincinnati final. Both Caroline Garcia and Petra Kvitova should be able to hold their serves with ease but nearly every factor is pointing towards Kvitova sneaking the win.
- Kvitova is a more accomplished grass-courter (flatter strikes, more repeatable serve, better record on grass).
- Having won the title in Miami and with a better win percentage this year, Kvitova is arguably in better form.
- Both women’s recent stats would suggest Kvitova will hold her serve with greater ease than Garcia (first-serve-in percentage, both players break percentages).
Garcia is a tricky customer and will likely be able to get a set through her serve and transition game alone. Ultimately though, there are too many things going the way of the world #9.
Prediction: Kvitova in 3.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
