The WTA Auckland Open has reached the quarterfinals with the stage set for an entertaining day of tennis in New Zealand. A number of star names are set to take to the courts, and as always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the slate. But who will book their spot in the last four?
WTA Auckland Quarterfinal Predictions
Bernarda Pera vs Robin Montgomery
Head-to-head: Montgomery 1-0 Pera
Bernarda Pera has started the year well, reaching the quarterfinals in Auckland without dropping a set. Robin Montgomery, meanwhile, recovered from a shaky first round performance against Mai Hontama to comfortably beat Nao Hibino on her way to this stage. While Montgomery is a promising young player who already defeated Pera on hard courts in 2022, Pera’s greater experience could prove decisive in what on paper seems to be a closely contested match.
Prediction: Pera in 3
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Katie Volynets vs Alycia Parks
Head-to-head: Parks 1-0 Volynets
Katie Volynets had a breakthrough season in 2024, going all the way from outside the top 100 to just shy of the top 50.The turn of the year has not slowed her momentum, with Volynets opening her WTA Auckland Open campaign by defeating Ann Li and Erika Andreeva. Alycia Parks, in contrast with her more measured compatriot, is a mercurial player, and it is very hard to know what to expect from her at any given moment. But she’s playing with confidence, riding a seven-match win streak. She looked particularly impressive in her comeback win over Amanda Anisimova in the first round. Whilst Parks may not be quite as consistent as Volynets, when she is in this kind of form, she is hard to stop.
Prediction: Parks in 3
Madison Keys vs Clara Tauson
Head-to-head: first meeting
Madison Keys had a realtively disappointing 2024 season by her standards, dropping out of the top 20. However, she remains one of the world’s most dangerous opponents when she finds her rhythm. She dismissed Jaqueline Cristian in the second round and appears to be firing on all cilinders. Clara Tauson, a talented player, has yet to fully establish herself in the top 50 as many had predicted. Although the Danish youngster had a very nice win against former-Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, battling for almost three hours this early into the season could prove costly. Keys should be able to assert herself in this one, even if it won’t be easy.
Prediction: Keys in 2
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Naomi Osaka vs Hailey Baptiste
Head-to-head: first meeting
Naomi Osaka is not quite the dominant force she was for many years – largely, it must be said because she injury problems have robbed of her consistency – but she’s still extremely hard to beat on hard courts. Indeed, she has already comfortably beaten Lina Glushko and Julia Grabher, and while Hailey Baptiste, a top 100 player, will be a tougher test for the Japanese superstar, don’t expect a different outcome. Baptiste has not been at her best so far at the WTA Auckland Open, and American had to fight for three hours to get past Jodie Burrage in her second-round match.
Prediction: Osaka in 2
Main photo credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
