The quarterfinals of the Prague Open have arrived, and players are now fighting for a spot in the final four. Day 3 of the Prague Open saw a couple notable matches, as Tamara Korpatsch upset Anna Karolina Schmiedlova and Jil Teichmann upset Svetlana Kuznetsova. Who will win the quarterfinal matchups? Let’s find out!
Prague Open Quarterfinal Predictions
Bernarda Pera vs Qiang Wang
Head to Head: 1-0 Wang
World No. 105 Bernarda Pera takes on World No. 16 Qiang Wang in the day’s first quarterfinal matchup. Bernarda Pera has yet to drop a set this tournament, but she has played two qualifiers in Barbara Haas and Antonia Lottner. However, these matchups are a little trickier than what one would initially think, as both already had lots of experience playing in Prague this week. But Pera had no issue taking care of them, losing only six games in both matchups.
After a tough loss in Stuttgart last week, Qiang Wang has rebounded well, winning two tough matches against Margarita Gasparyan and Mandy Minella in three sets. While Pera is having the easier time winning this week, Wang’s base level is much higher. In the head to head, Wang won in straight sets in Indian Wells this year. This match will come down to whether Pera can control the court with her lefty forehand. I don’t think she will do a good enough job.
Prediction: Wang in 3
Karolina Muchova vs Natalia Vikhlyantseva
Head to Head: Never Played
The second quarterfinal of the day features World No. 106 Karolina Muchova taking on World No. 113 Natalia Vikhlyantseva. Muchova has fought through some tough matches, beating Iga Swiatek and Jennifer Brady. Muchova’s wins have been anything but easy, coming back from a break down twice against Swiatek, and winning a third set tiebreak against Brady. In the pressure moments, look for Muchova to come through.
Natalia Vikhlyantseva won a straightforward match over Kristina Pliskova in the first round, but had a tougher time with Anastasia Potapova before winning 7-5 in the third. Vikhlyantseva did a great job to refocus after letting three match point chances slip away in the third set, as she immediately held and then broke for the match. These two players have never played before. This matchup will come down to whether or not Vikhlyantseva can stay consistent enough from the baseline. I think that she will hit too many unforced errors.
Prediction: Muchova in 3
Jil Teichmann vs Tamara Korpatsch
Head to Head: 1-0 Korpatsch
The final quarterfinal of the day features World No. 146 Jil Teichmann taking on World No. 151 Tamara Korpatsch for a surprise trip to the semifinals. Teichmann has done a great job not only qualifying for tournaments and now reaching the quarterfinals, with wins over Ekaterina Alexandrova and Svetlana Kuznetsova. While Kuznestova is not at her Grand Slam-winning peak, beating her on clay is still very impressive. Tamara Korpatsch, a lucky loser in this tournament, has used her good luck to her fortune. Korpatsch beat Aleksandra Krunic in straight sets before going on to upset Anna Karolina Schmiedlova in three sets.
Korpatsch leads the head to head 1-0. She destroyed Teichmann in their only previous meeting, only dropping three games. Despite that, it does feel with Teichmann’s win over Kuznetsova that she is in very good form, and her set lost to Kuznetsova was her only lost set in five matches this week. I have a feeling their previous match was an anomaly. Teichmann wins.
Prediction: Teichmann in 3
Barbora Strycova vs Katerina Siniakova
Head to Head: 2-1 Strycova
It will be an all-Czech battle as World No. 39 Barbora Strycova takes on World No. 44 Katerina Siniakova. Barbora Strycova is doing a great job building off of her semifinal run in Istanbul last week. Strycova has not dropped a set all week in wins over Mona Barthel and Jessica Pegula. Katerina Siniakova has also not dropped a set this week, and is doing a great job recovering from a rough start to the season. Siniakova has only dropped six games combined in her two wins over Dalia Jakupovic and Jana Cepelova.
The head to head is 2-1 in favor of Strycova. Expect this to be a long match with a lot of long rallies, as both players enjoy playing a more counterpunching style of tennis. This match will come down to who can take control of the rallies and establish a position inside of the baseline. And given the dominance that Siniakova has showed so far in Prague, I think that she will be able to control the center of the court and win this match.
Prediction: Siniakova in 3
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