We are just four days away from the start of the 2023 French Open as eight women remain in Rabat, Morocco, looking to raise the trophy at the final WTA lead-up event ahead of the second Slam of the season. The Grand Prix Son Altesse Royale La Princesse Lalla Meryem has led to intriguing matchups all week. Quarterfinal Thursday should be no different as an all-American showdown of Sloane Stephens and Peyton Stearns sets the stage on Friday. We have the preview and prediction for that match and all other happenings around the grounds of Rabat. But who will advance?
WTA Rabat Quarterfinal Predictions
Martina Trevisan vs Julia Grabher
Head-to-Head: first meeting
No. 1 seed Martina Trevisan will square off against Julia Grabher for the first time with a spot in the Rabat semifinals on the line. Trevisan has yet to drop a set this week as she looks to gain some clay-court form ahead of the French Open. Grabher has won four of her last five matches, with the lone loss coming in a deciding set against world No. 9 Daria Kasatkina. The 26-year-old Austrian will go into this match with the confidence to upset the No. 1 seed, but Trevisan’s baseline consistency should lead her to victory.
Prediction: Trevisan in 3
Alycia Parks vs Lucia Bronzetti
Head-to-Head: Parks 0-1 Bronzetti
We are in store for a terrific quarterfinal match when No. 4 seed Alycia Parks takes on Lucia Bronzetti. Bronzetti won their only previous meeting handily last year in Guadalajara. Since that meeting, the young Italian has struggled with consistency but has put together a solid month of May on the clay. She is 5-1 in her last six matches. Parks, on the other hand, has not had much success this year. She is 5-10 in her previous 15 matches and has struggled to string wins together. Although Parks has not dropped a set this week, I favor Bronzetti’s clay-court prowess in this matchup.
Prediction: Bronzetti in 3
Yulia Putintseva vs Julia Riera
Head-to-Head: first meeting
No. 6 seed Yulia Putintseva squares off against 20-year-old Julia Riera for the first time. Putintseva has put together some strong clay-court matches over the last month. She holds a 5-2 record, with those two losses coming against top-five ranked players. Riera has had a phenomenal season at all levels. She holds a 33-9 record in 2023 and is coming off a very impressive straight-set victory over Mayar Sherif. The young Argentine plays with good balance and pace on the clay and will trouble Putintseva. I expect her to play with nothing to lose, allowing her the freedom to hit through her opponent.
Prediction: Riera in 3
Sloane Stephens vs Peyton Stearns
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Americans Sloane Stephens and Peyton Stearns will square off for the first time with a spot in the Rabat semifinals on the line. Stephens is 8-1 since the start of May and seems to be coming into form ahead of the second Slam of the season. She has dropped just one set in those eight wins. Stearns has quickly climbed the WTA rankings during her first full season on tour. The 2022 NCAA Champion is on the brink of her second WTA semifinal after taking down Leylah Fernandez in the Round of 16. Stearns plays with power and has a bright future at this level, but Stephens is in too good of form to pick against.
Prediction: Stephens in 2
Photo Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
