A couple of quarter-final picks from Sao Paulo today, with overcast skies and a slight chance of rain hanging over the outdoor hard courts. Both matches have something interesting going on, so let's get into it.
WTA SP Open Predictions
Anna Blinkova vs Alina Charaeva
Head-to-head: First meeting
Blinkova is the higher-ranked player here and has been one of those mid-tier hardcourt performers who quietly racks up results without much fanfare. Charaeva sits at 133 in the world and hasn't given much indication she can trouble someone a full 40 spots above her at this level.
First meetings can go either way, but I think the ranking gap tells the real story. Blinkova wins this, though Charaeva might make her work for it and take it to three.
Prediction: Blinkova in 3
Nadia Podoroska vs Suzan Lamens
Head-to-head: Podoroska 0-1 Lamens
This one's more interesting. Podoroska is ranked 317 right now, which feels low for a player of her experience, and Lamens actually leads the head-to-head. But Podoroska is Argentine and has played plenty of South American hardcourt tennis over the years and that kind of comfort with local conditions counts for something in a quarter-final on home soil.
That said, Lamens is the higher-ranked player and deserves credit, but Podoroska feels like the kind of opponent who raises her level when the tournament starts to matter. Should be a three-setter, and I feel like Podoroska's familiarity with this environment gets her over the line, all things considered.
Prediction: Podoroska in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Leonardo Ramirez/eyepix via ZUMA Press Wire