Day 5 at the WTA 500 event in Stuttgart will see all four quarterfinal matches being played, with an absolutely star-studded lineup for a tournament of this category. All of the top four players in the world will be in action tomorrow, as well as the world #8. With such an amazing field, it promises to be an amazing day of tennis and a great business end of the tournament in general.
WTA Stuttgart Day 5 Predictions
Elena Rybakina vs Jasmine Paolini
Head-to-head: Rybakina 1-1 Paolini
Rybakina had a very disappointing Australian Open, but after that she returned to her usual level, reaching finals and winning titles. Paolini hasn’t been having a very consistent season, but all of her bad results were made up for in Dubai, where she won her biggest career title. Even so, Rybakina is generally the stronger player of the two, even on clay, and should have the slight edge here.
Prediction: Rybakina in 3
Marketa Vondrousova vs Aryna Sabalenka
Head-to-head: Sabalenka 4-2 Vondrousova
Sabalenka started the season in the best possible way, by defending her Australian Open title without dropping a single set in the process. Her performances afterwards have been quite disappointing though and she is looking to get back on track here, at a tournament where she lost each of the last three finals. While the title has been lacking so far, reaching the final three times in a row shows that she’s comfortable on this court; she also seems comfortable against Vondrousova, with four wins in a row after losing the first two. Vondrousova will put up a very good fight for sure, but Sabalenka should have the slight edge.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 3
Iga Swiatek vs Emma Raducanu
Head-to-head: Swiatek 3-0 Raducanu
Despite losing early at the Australian Open, Swiatek has long proved to be the most consistent WTA player and titles in Doha and Indian Wells have proved just that. The #1 in the world is the two time defending champion at this tournament and while she dominates the tour on hard on well, on clay she’s even more dominant and tough to beat. It will be very hard to stop her in this clay season and Raducanu is extremely unlikely to be the one to do it.
Prediction: Swiatek in 2
Coco Gauff vs Marta Kostyuk
Head-to-head: Gauff 2-0 Kostyuk
After an amazing end of 2023, Gauff hasn’t really found her groove yet in 2024, although she has got some good results (but not a big title or final yet). She has proved to be very good on clay and is arguably the second favorite to win Roland Garros this year after the inevitable Iga Swiatek. Kostyuk challenged Gauff a lot at the Australian Open, but she shouldn’t put that much resistance here in Stuttgart.
Prediction: Gauff in 2
Main Photo Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
