A couple of quarter-final picks from Rouen today, with overcast skies and a real chance of rain hanging over the clay courts. Both matches look genuinely competitive on paper, so let's see who we think gets through.
WTA Open Capfinances Rouen Metropole Predictions
Marta Kostyuk vs Ann Li
Head-to-head: Kostyuk 1-1 Li
These two have split their previous meetings, and neither result came on clay, so the surface doesn't really tell us much about where the edge lies. Kostyuk is the higher-ranked player and has been the more consistent performer over the past year and on slow clay her ability to stay patient and redirect the ball should cause Li some problems.
Li can be dangerous on her best day, but her best days have been hard to find lately. I think Kostyuk takes this one, though not without dropping a set along the way.
Prediction: Kostyuk in 3
Anna Bondar vs Sorana Cirstea
Head-to-head: Bondar 1-1 Cirstea
Cirstea is the higher-ranked player here and has the more decorated clay-court résumé, but Bondar is a genuine grinder on this surface and at this level of event she's hard to put away. The slow conditions in Rouen, which have made the balls feel particularly heavy this week, should drag rallies out and that plays right into Bondar's hands, where she's become so good at not panicking and just waiting for her moment.
That said, Cirstea's game is built more on taking time away and going for her shots, and on heavy clay against a defender, that can go wrong fast. Feel like Bondar grinds this one out in three sets, all things considered.
Prediction: Bondar in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Stephane Thomas/ZUMA Press Wire