The 2023 WTA Hamburg European Open hosts its quarterfinal matches on Thursday. Bernarda Pera against Diana Shnaider and Arantxa Rus vs Eva Lys are both matches that have already taken place this month. Will the results be the same or are we going to witness some sweet revenge? Who do you think will come out on top?
WTA Hamburg Quarterfinal Predictions
Noma Noha Akugue vs Martina Trevisan
Head-to-head: First meeting
Noma Noha Akugue has been regarded as a prospect for a few years, but despite her big game hasn’t been able to find her breakthrough. This might not be it already, although it would be a completely different story if she went on to defeat Martina Trevisan. The Italian clay-court specialist has barely been dropping games in Hamburg so far, including an impressive dismissal of Camila Osorio. Noha Akugue will need to find a lot of regulation in her power game here and that might be tough against such an opponent.
Prediction: Trevisan in 2
Arantxa Rus vs Eva Lys
Head-to-head: Rus 1-0
First, a bit of context: Arantxa Rus beat Eva Lys in the quarterfinals at the WTA 125K in Contrexeville thirteen days ago. The 32-year-old won 6-4 6-4 and went on to take the title. It’s quietly been a great season for her with four titles already (two of them 125Ks). The level of play has been very high recently, although in this event so far she’s had to battle a lot harder than Lys. The talented German will probably threaten here. However, it’s up to Rus to outplay her with the lefty forehand like she did in Contrexeville.
Prediction: Rus in 2
[cta id=591 type=cta]
Jule Niemeier vs Daria Saville
Head-to-head: First meeting
It’s just the fourth event Daria Saville plays this year as she was out for a long time with another injury. She had to start from the qualifying here and has already won four matches at the expense of just one set. Jule Niemeier can be a very tough out on these courts though and she already proved that two years ago when she made the semifinals. The German hasn’t found her consistency this year yet, but the weaponry makes her a very dangerous player on her day. Home crowd support might help her more too with her love for big matches.
Prediction: Niemeier in 3
Bernarda Pera vs Diana Shnaider
Head-to-head: Shnaider 1-0
They played just last week in Budapest, another event where Bernarda Pera was defending the title. Diana Shnaider pulled off the upset in the opening round there and will be trying to stop the American again. While Pera isn’t as amazing during this fortnight as she was last year, her game is still really suited to these courts and her lefty topspin forehand is a beautiful weapon on clay. It should be a tight match again and Shnaider has already shown she has what it takes. It’s possible she does it again, but Pera remains a slight favorite.
Prediction: Pera in 3
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
