Three quarter-final picks from Nottingham today, where the grass is doing what grass does and throwing up some interesting results. Let's get into it.
WTA Lexus Nottingham Open Predictions
Jessica Bouzas Maneiro vs Emma Navarro
Head-to-head: Maneiro 1-0 Navarro
That one head-to-head win for Bouzas Maneiro is worth noting, but it doesn't tell the full story of where these two are right now. Navarro has been one of the better grass-court movers on tour over the last year and her game, built around precision and not giving you free points, translates really well to this surface. Bouzas Maneiro is a capable player but Navarro is clearly operating at a higher level at the moment.
I think Navarro gets through this, though not without some pressure. Bouzas Maneiro will make her work for it and a third set is very much on the table.
Prediction: Navarro in 3
Marie Bouzkova vs Tatjana Maria
Head-to-head: Bouzkova 3-4 Maria
This head-to-head is genuinely fascinating. Maria leads it and that's not a surprise when you remember just how awkward her lefty slice game is on grass, where the ball stays low and her angles get even nastier. Bouzkova is no stranger to grass herself and reaches the quarter-finals here as the higher-ranked player, but Maria at 36 still knows exactly what she's doing on this surface and has the better record between them to back it up.
Maria in 3 feels right here. Bouzkova will have her moments but Maria's game is just built for days like this.
Prediction: Maria in 3
Karolina Pliskova vs Talia Gibson
Head-to-head: First meeting
Pliskova on grass is a different animal. The serve becomes almost unplayable at times and her flat ball-striking off the ground is much more effective when the surface does half the work for her. Gibson has had a solid season and is ranked higher, but Pliskova's grass pedigree, she was a Wimbledon finalist in 2021, is the kind of experience that matters in these quarter-final moments. Hard to see this being competitive at all. First meetings on grass tend to go to whoever lands their serve better, and that's almost always Pliskova.
Prediction: Pliskova in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © PI via ZUMA Press Wire