Three of the four quarterfinal matches at the WTA Guadalajara are set. Jelena Ostapenko’s round of 16 clash with Marina Stakusic will be played earlier on Friday after it was prematurely canceled because of a possible storm. So, who will advance to the semifinals?
WTA Guadalajara Quarterfinal Predictions
Tatjana Maria vs Elsa Jacquemot
Head-to-head: first meeting
Age continues to be a number for Tatjana Maria, who is guaranteed to rejoin the Top 50 after this tournament. She celebrated her 38th birthday last month and is still a nightmare to play against on any surface. Elsa Jacquemot is also an unorthodox player who doesn’t rely too much on pace, but beats opponents by making them uncomfortable on the court with awkward patterns of play. But if there is a player who has mastered that art, it is the German veteran.
Prediction: Maria in 3
Iva Jovic vs Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva
Head-to-head: first meeting
Jimenez Kasintseva has not dropped a set from qualifying and secured an upset win over Veronika Kudermetova in the last round. This will be a great opportunity for either Jovic or Kasintseva to make the semis at the WTA 500 level. Over the course of the season, it is Jovic who has been consistent on tour. The young American has grown in match toughness, and her willingness to stay aggressive in rallies could give her a significant advantage over the Andorran.
Prediction: Jovic in 3
Magdalena Frech vs Nikola Bartunkova
Head-to-head: first meeting
Frech’s title defense got off to a great start as the 27-year-old saw off Lucrezia Stefanini in straight sets in her opening match. It wasn’t the most comfortable match for the Pole, who had to fend off seven of 11 break points in the match and saved two set points in the second set tie-break. That said, Frech should still be a favorite to polish up her game before meeting Bartunkova. The young Czech reached her first WTA quarterfinal since returning from a six-month doping suspension, but hasn’t been tested against a high-calibre opponent.
Prediction: Frech in 2
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
