A couple of quarter-final picks from Nottingham today, and both matches are more interesting than the rankings suggest. Grass has a way of doing that.
WTA Lexus Nottingham Open Predictions
Ann Li vs Viktorija Golubic
Head-to-head: Li 1-1 Golubic
Golubic is one of those players who genuinely comes alive on grass. She's a former Nottingham finalist and her flat, low-bouncing ball is a real problem on this surface, so dismissing her just because she's ranked 76th would be a mistake. The H2H is level at 1-1 and this one could easily go three.
That said, Li has been one of the better grass-court performers among the younger American generation and she's the higher-ranked player for a reason. I think the third set goes her way if it comes to that, but don't expect it to be clean.
Prediction: Li in 3
Marie Bouzkova vs Tatjana Maria
Head-to-head: Bouzkova 3-4 Maria
This H2H is wild. Maria actually leads it 4-3, and on grass that record means even more than it would on other surfaces. She's one of the most awkward players on the tour to face on this surface, with that extreme slice and high kick serve, which tends to sit up in completely the wrong way on this kind of turf, and she's beaten Bouzkova more than once here.
Bouzkova is the better all-around player right now and ranked 90 spots above Maria, so she goes in as the favorite. To make things worse for Maria, three sets feels almost certain going in and Bouzkova should still find a way to get through here, all things considered. Bouzkova in 3 feels right, just not easy.
Prediction: Bouzkova in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Loic Baratoux/ZUMA Press Wire