The positive predictions continue to roll for this column this week, and with a four match slate to preview we are very much looking forward to quarterfinal day in Courmayeur. (For yesterday, “Day 4 in Courmayeur” is also an excellent rhyme, if you pronounce Courmayeur the way I think you do.) Now down to the serious business: which players will complete the semifinal line-up in the Italian Alps resort?
WTA Courmayeur Quarterfinal Predictions
Dayana Yastremska vs Jasmine Paolini
Head-to-head: Paolini 1-0 Yastremska
A rematch of an opening round encounter in Portoroz a few weeks ago. This is significant because once Paolini emerged from that match she went on to win the tournament. It was a very tight first set then and Yastremska ended up retiring in the second set. I expect a tight match all the way here and on this occasion the extra height and more potent serve and groundstrokes of the Ukrainian could hold sway. Paolini will definitely not go down without a fight but Yastremska holds the more persuasive case for victory.
Prediction: Yastremska in 3
Donna Vekic vs Xinyu Wang
Head-to-head: First meeting
Vekic has taken out two Chinese players already in her opening matches, and if she is to make it a hat trick then she will probably have to produce her best performance so far. Wang can match the Croatian on serve, unlike her countrywomen Vekic has met so far, and the Chinese athlete is in better form than Vekic overall. I am going to predict a small surprise here and pick Wang to advance to the semifinals.
Prediction: Wang in 2
Anna Kalinskaya vs Ludmilla Samsonova
Head-to-head: first meeting
Surprisingly this seems to be the first professional meeting between these two 22-year-old Russians. They followed each other through the rankings until Samsonova had her big run of grass court success in the summer so there is actually very little between them, especially on hard courts. I think this match could go three sets but the extra winning experience that Samsonova has picked up over the summer should hold her in good stead to be able to close out the match ahead of Kalinskaya.
Prediction: Samsonova in 3
Clara Tauson vs Ann Li
Head-to-head: Tauson 1-1 Li
Pick of the quarterfinals between two players who are both in excellent form. Both are also recent title winners but Li must surely begin to feel the effects of her exertions soon. She came straight to the Italian Alps from the island of Tenerife on Monday and then battled back in her two opening round matches to win them both. Tauson won’t be as easy to come against as Rakhimova and Frech. The Dane has been comfortable in both wins so far, and defeated Li on their last meeting as well. However, that meeting went to an opening set tie-break before becoming much more comfortable. I suspect that this will go in a very similar manner, a highly competitive opening set before Li finds it difficult to come back against the power and serving prowess of the young Dane.
Prediction: Tauson in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
