The quarterfinal line-up will be complete after the Day Four matches are decided. Shelby Rogers is looking particularly strong so far in the tournament, dropping only five games in her two matches so far. This perhaps gives us a clue that Charleston doesn’t play like a traditional clay court, perhaps more of a hybrid clay/hard surface. Something to bear in mind for the picks in Day Four and beyond.
Who will make it to the final eight then? We preview all four matches on the Althea Gibson court below.
WTA Charleston Day 4 Predictions
Madison Brengle vs Astra Sharma
Head-to-head: First meeting
Going to chance the Aussie in this one. Both players wouldn’t choose clay as their primary surface to play on but overcame that to win their opening-round matches well. I just feel as though Sharma is the player in slightly better form in 2021 and will have the greater confidence to go out and play her attacking shots to make the difference.
Prediction: Sharma in 3
Emma Navarro vs Linda Fruhvirtova
Head-to-head: First meeting
The odds were pretty astronomical that Navarro and Fruhvirtova would meet here. Both wildcards were big outsiders in their opening rounds against Tereza Martincova and Alize Cornet respectively, but both youngsters benefitted from retirements from their experienced opponents. However, we were able to see enough to tease out some interesting points. Navarro held serve over 70% of the time, though she did have to save 75% of her breakpoints to do so. Fruhvirtova, perhaps unsurprisingly given her age, struggled on serve, but took the Cornet serve to pieces, breaking her 10 times from 14 attempts. Given that, I am expecting a match full of breaks here but I think that the American will be the one to emerge on top as she could hold her nerve stronger in the key moments.
Prediction: Navarro in 3
Christina McHale vs Maria Camila Osorio Serrano
Head-to-meeting: First meeting
One that I did manage to call correctly earlier in the week was that the Colombian would be able to roll on with her good form from her maiden WTA title win. Defeating Magda Linette in three sets will have settled her into this tournament well and she is now a danger again. However, McHale surprised me with her level in her win against Errani and she is not without a chance here at all. I am once again picking Osorio Serrano to continue her hot streak though, that winning instinct can be a habit and it will inspire the Colombian with confidence when it gets tight.
Prediction: Osorio Serrano in 3
Ons Jabeur vs Alycia Parks
Head-to-meeting: First meeting
It perhaps took longer than originally thought but Jabeur was comfortable in the end against Stefanie Voegele losing only five games en route to a straight-sets victory. A similar story is true for Alycia Parks though as well and she will be pleased to have won a round here on home dirt. However, I think the qualifier’s run will end here. The Tunisian former Australian Open quarterfinalist should have far too much guile and shot-making ability for the #300 ranked player in the world.
Prediction: Jabeur in 2
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