Four superb quarterfinal matches are scheduled at the WTA Rouen Open, with teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva, former US Open champion Sloane Stephens and home favourite Caroline Garcia among those set to feature. As always, we at LWOT give our predictions and analysis for all the matches. Which players do you think will reach the semifinals?
WTA Rouen Quarterfinal Predictions
Sloane Stephens vs Yue Yuan
Head-to-head: Yuan 1-0 Stephens
Yuan beat Stephens in a final-set tiebreak on the hard courts in Hobart at the start of the season. But Stephens is the favourite on clay. Yuan managed another final-set tiebreak victory in the last round against Varvara Gracheva to set up this meeting. She does not get a day’s rest after this, meaning fatigue could be an issue. Stephens also moves more comfortably on clay than Yuan and will construct points in a composed manner. The 2018 French Open runner-up is very likely to show more consistency to progress at the WTA Rouen Open.
Prediction: Stephens in 2
Arantxa Rus vs Magda Linette
Head-to-head: Rus 1-0 Linette
Rus played a really smart match to overcome Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the last round, hitting with a lot of spin to get her powerful opponent moving. Linette is a very different kind of player. There will be many long rallies between these two excellent athletes. However, Rus is naturally the better clay court player at her best. Linette has found some form lately and is a tough opponent, but the Dutchwoman should be better.
Prediction: Rus in 3
Caroline Garcia vs Elena-Gabriela Ruse
Head-to-head: Garcia 1-0 Ruse
Garcia was at her vintage best in a 6-1 6-0 demolition of Anna Karolina Schmiedlova in the last round. Ruse is currently outside the Top 100 but Garcia cannot afford to be complacent here. The Romanian is a very good clay court player and has been in good form so far. It can be hard to know what to expect from Garcia, even after a great performance. Nonetheless, if she finds her range, she should be able to overwhelm Ruse at the WTA Rouen Open.
Prediction: Garcia in 2
Mirra Andreeva vs Anhelina Kalinina
Head-to-head: First meeting
16-year-old Andreeva’s game is a natural fit for clay. She showed that with two very good performances to reach this stage. Kalinina also plays her best tennis on clay and this contest will undoubtedly contain some great hitting. It is a tough one to call, but Andreeva is given a slight edge. She is often devastating against players who give her a consistent pace, which Kalinina will. That should give her enough chances to use her accurate hitting to claim another win here.
Prediction: Kalinina in 3
Main Photo Credit: Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
