The WTA Birmingham Classic has reached the fourth day of action. Thursday sees Tunisian star Ons Jabeur in action alongside the likes of Kristina Mladenovic and Daria Kasatkina. All are seasoned players on the WTA Tour, but who will move on to the quarterfinals? We take a look in our WTA Birmingham Classic day 4 predictions.
WTA Birmingham Classic Day 4 Predictions
Kristina Mladenovic vs Anastasia Potapova
Head-to-head:
Mladenovic did very well to overcome a tough test against fellow French woman Fiona Ferro in her last match. She now faces young star Potapova. The Russian was on a rapidly rising trajectory before injuries derailed her season last year. However, she looks to be returning to her best on the grass which is of little surprise given she was a junior Wimbledon champion. If Potapova can play near the level she is capable of she should have enough to move on here. Both players can be shaky on serve and this one may be decided by who performs better in that area over the course of the match. I expect three sets and that the Russian will just edge it.
Prediction: Potapova in 3
Tereza Martincova vs Jelena Ostapenko
Head-to-head:
Ostapenko showed in the second set of her last match just how dangerous she can be when she gets going., Martincova is a solid player having a career year, but few can live with the Latvian when she is firing on all cylinders. It has been a while since Ostapenko strung a few performances like that together. However, the longer that trend continues the more she becomes due for such a run. I think that run may well come here. Martincova has enough in her game to make it close, but Ostapenko will outhit her in the end.
Prediction: Ostapenko in 2
Daria Kasatkina vs Marta Kostyuk
Head-to-head:
Kasatkina avoided the upset against Polona Hercog in her last match by finding the tennis that has had her looking a favourite in most tournaments she has played in so far this year. The Russian is a former top ten player and looks it again this year. Her crisp forehand, jumping backhand and bag of tricks all seem to be well oiled at the moment. Nonetheless, she will have to overcome a tough test in the form of teen sensation Marta Kostyuk if she wants to lift the title in Birmingham. Kostyuk has had a breakout year on the tour and looks set to be a major star of the future. She is relatively inexperienced on grass though and that may prove the difference here. This could go either way, but I think grass court experience gives Kasatkina the edge.
Prediction: Kasatkina in 3
Ons Jabeur vs Leylah Fernandez
Head-to-head
For someone who reportedly doesn’t have grass courts to practice on back home in Tunisia, Jabeur’s play so far has shown no such inexperience. That is unsurprising given the array of weapons she has available to her. Slices and net play are just a few of the things she brings to the table and such shots fair well on the grass. Fernandez is another young player to look out for on the tour, but she too is inexperienced on this surface and that lack of practice should cost her dear here against a season player of Jabeur’s ability. On paper this is a close match but I suspect it won’t be in practice.
Prediction: Jabeur in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
