After a day in which the top two seeds saved match points, the final eight women are set at the 2021 WTA Abu Dhabi Open.
Who will advance to the semifinals?
WTA Abu Dhabi Open Quarterfinal Predictions
Aryna Sabalenka vs Elena Rybakina
Head-to-head: Sabalenka 1-0 Rybakina
Two of the WTA’s biggest hitters will battle this one out for a spot in the semifinals of the Abu Dhabi Open. Both Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina spent the 2020 season rapidly ascending the global tennis ranks.
The Belarusian started the week from where she left off last season – winning. Following her latest success over Ons Jabeur (simultaneously avenging the Roland Garros defeat last fall), Sabalenka’s winning run now stands at 12 matches. She won back-to-back titles to close out a career-best season.
If winning and power comes easy for Sabalenka, then Rybakina is a colossal equal. The 6-footer from Kazakhstan fired 193 aces during the course of 2020 season – surging well ahead of the likes of Karolina Pliskova and Serena Williams.
Sabalenka and Rybakina are yet to lose a set this week. This match hinges on the outcome of that first set. Rallies will be at a premium given just how aggressive the two players are from the baseline. Sabelenka tends to hit plenty of return winners particularly on her opponent’s second serve and the Rybakina backhand has looked suspect at times this week. Rybakina’s two hander may not have the same speed of shot as the forehand, but it is a work in progress. It is a big call, but I think Rybakina is the one player capable of halting Sabalenka’s winning streak.
Prediction: Rybakina in 3
Marta Kostyuk vs Sara Sorribes Tormo
Head-to-head: Kostyuk 0-1 Sorribes Tormo
Neither player has been a headline-grabber this week, but Marta Kostyuk’s 6-1 6-1 win over Tamara Zidansek in just 54 minutes is certainly noteworthy. Zidansek came into the contest in high spirits after a comeback win over the 11th seed Jennifer Brady and Canada’s rising star Leylah Fernandez. But Kostyuk extinguished the Slovenian’s hopes in brutal fashion. Sorribes Tormo will be no pushover and has gone on about her business impressively in beating French Open semifinalist Nadia Podoroska and Bernarda Pera before ending the fairytale run of Anastasia Gasanova. If Kostyuk comes flying out of the gates early on, the Spaniard could be chasing shadows.
Prediction: Kostyuk in 3
Elina Svitolina vs Veronika Kudermetova
Head-to-head: Svitolina 0-1 Kudermetova
Svitolina appeared destined to fall at the hands of Ekaterina Alexandrova. Having wasted an opportunity to serve for the match in the second set, she was dragged into a cat-and-mouse game in the third set tiebreak. Eventually, she saved two match points and broke Alexandrova’s resistance.
It took two and half hours, probably an hour more which she could have conserved had she served out the match. She plays another Russian in the shape of Veronika Kudermetova. Kudermetova has looked imperious which makes this an evenly-matched contest. The Russian might just shade it.
Prediction: Kudermetova in 3
Sofia Kenin vs Maria Sakkari
Head-to-head: Kenin 2-0 Sakkari
Sakkari is in great shape and is really tearing the cover off the ball this week. Her first serve and forehand are huge. It is no surprise to see her save a whopping 22 break points in the three matches. In the previous round Muguruza conjured up 13 break points and only converted one. At the other end, she was clutch against the Spaniard, firing 33 winners including 11 aces.
Since this is the start of the season, there is always the possibility of top players being caught a little cold. Having watched each of Kenin’s three matches this week, she has looked nowhere near her best and scraped wins over Flipkens (albeit via a retirement) and Putintseva (saving a match point). Sakkari will certainly make life very difficult for the reigning Australian Open champion.
Prediction: Sakkari in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
