The WTA 500 in Strasbourg is entering its final stages with just eight players left in contention for the title. Top-seeded Marketa Vondrousova takes on Anhelina Kalinina, while Danielle Collins takes on Clara Burel. Who do you think will come out on top?
WTA Strasbourg Quarterfinal Predictions
Liudmila Samsonova vs Beatriz Haddad Maia
Head-to-head: First meeting
The quality of the field at this event is perhaps best represented by this quarterfinal between two Top 20 players. Liudmila Samsonova was just 5-11 for the year going into this week though, so beating Barbora Krejcikova and Leylah Fernandez is already pretty massive for her. The big-hitting Russian can fire up anytime and be a very tough player to stop. Beatriz Haddad Maia might deserve to be a small favorite here, she’ll stand up to Samsonova’s power a bit more than her previous opponents.
Prediction: Haddad Maia in 3
Magda Linette vs Madison Keys
Head-to-head: Keys 3-1
Two players who weren’t always in love with clay courts the last few years, but managed to regain their form in this part of the season. Madison Keys lost only to Iga Swiatek in Madrid and Rome and while they were some brutal defeats, that’s pretty much what 99% of the tour is experiencing against the Pole on the dirt. Magda Linette posted one of the best wins of her career against Keys at Billie Jean King Cup a couple of years ago, but this matchup is on the racket of the American and her power.
Prediction: Keys in 2
Marketa Vondrousova vs Anhelina Kalinina
Head-to-head: Kalinina 2-1
Marketa Vondrousova was in a spot of bother on Wednesday against Magdalena Frech, but got through when the Pole injured herself up a set. The Czech really needs points right now as she’ll soon be defending over half of her ranking at Wimbledon. While Anhelina Kalinina has recovered some of her form back of late, it’s still a very good opportunity for Vondrousova to do that herself just ahead of the French Open.
Prediction: Vondrousova in 3
Danielle Collins vs Clara Burel
Head-to-head: First meeting
Clara Burel scored a big win over the defending champion Elina Svitolina on Wednesday, taking down the Ukrainian in three sets. Now she has to pull off something similarly difficult and follow it up by defeating Danielle Collins. That might turn out to be even trickier as the American has been in incredible form since the start of the year, playing fearlessly since announcing that this will be her last season.
Prediction: Collins in 2
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
