WTA Montreal: Quarterfinal Predictions

It’s getting to be crunch time at the National Bank Open in Montreal for players on the WTA Tour. Many are looking to make deep runs into a WTA 1000 event for the first time in their careers.

Regardless, the quarterfinal matchups still have enough star power to get fans excited about the tennis they are viewing. World No. 3, and top seeded, Aryna Sabalenka remains in the draw, along with Karolina Pliskova, Ons Jabeur and Coco Gauff. Will they advance to the semifinals, or will their opponents spoil the party?

Here are my Montreal quarterfinal predictions:

(1) Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) vs (8) Victoria Azarenka (BLR)

Prediction: (1) Aryna Sabalenka

The battle of Belarus. Former World No. 1 Azarenka may not be the player she was in the past but the now World No. 15 still poses a threat to Sabalenka. This time, I am going to trust the powerful offense of Sabalenka more than the great defense of Azarenka.

(4) Karolina Pliskova (CZE) vs Sara Sorribes Tormo (ESP)

Prediction: (4) Karolina Pliskova

Pliskova has recorded the more impressive wins over the course of the tournament so far (Vekic, Anisimova). The first and only time these two played resulted in a 6-2, 6-0 Pliskova win. Sorribes Tormo will likely play a more competitive match but Pliskova’s power behind her groundstrokes will result in easy points and should earn her the victory.

Camila Giorgi (ITA) vs (15) Coco Gauff (USA)

Prediction: (15) Coco Gauff

I see this as a match where the initial pressure from Gauff leads to a handful of errors from Giorgi. The Italian may try to do too much to match what Gauff is doing on the court. The serve of Gauff is much better and will pose as the bigger threat.

Jessica Pegula (USA) vs (13) Ons Jabeur (TUN)

Prediction: Jessica Pegula

I had to go with at least one upset. Though it didn’t count for points, Pegula won invitational matches at last week’s Citi Open over Gauff and Azarenka. She carried that momentum into this week and earned some good wins over No. 10 seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and American Danielle Collins. If Pegula can turn this match into more of a physical, baseline encounter, then she should be in a good position to win this match.