WTA Charleston Quarter-Final Predictions: Jankovic-Bouchard and Wozniacki-Voegele

Jelena Jankovic

The schedule was decimated yesterday in Charleston although the rain did eventually clear to allow the bottom half of 3rd round matches to be completed...

1. Jelena Jankovic v Eugenie Bouchard

Jelena Jankovic had been pushed to the brink in her first two matches, most notably in her second round match where she saved a pair of match points to fend off an inspired effort from Caroline Garcia.  Yesterday, things were much more straightforward as she defeated Jessica Pegula, 6-0 6-4.  She faces another promising youngster in Eugenie Bouchard who has reacher her first WTA quarter-final having come through qualifying.  Bouchard was in fantastic form as she raced into a 6-1 2-0 lead over Sam Stosur before the Aussie was sadly forced to retire due to her calf injury.

Jankovic and Bouchard have unsurprisingly never met before on the WTA tour.  Like Miami, JJ's draw has completely opened up for her and she is gaining more and more confidence on the clay, which is her best surface.  Bouchard will be no pushover though and will be sure to give Jankovic a run for the money.  My verdict? I think Jankovic will come through in the end...

Prediction - Jankovic to beat Bouchard in 3 sets

2. Caroline Wozniacki v Stephanie Voegele

Caroline Wozniacki has barely been forced into a sweat in reaching the Charleston quarter-finals as she strolled through her opening match with a 6-1 6-1 scoreline and then benefitted from a walkover in round three as Andrea Petkovic was unfortunately forced to pull out through injury.  Her opponent is Stephanie Voegele, who backed her upset win over number 8 seed, Carla Suarez Navarro in the second round with another seeded scalp yesterday in Julia Goerges.  The German player just cannot seem to get going this year and she would have fancied her chances against Woz having won their last three encounters.  Anyway its Wozniacki-Voegele and I think the Dane will cruise into the semi-finals.

Prediction - Wozniacki to beat Voegele in 2 sets (1 tight, 1 easy)

The 4 remaining third round matches will kick off first in Charleston.  I fancy Serena and Cirstea to come through to meet in the first quarter-final with Serena prevailing in straight sets.  The second quarter is more tricky to predict; I think Venus and Madison Keys will come through with Keys progressing to the semi-finals.  I will be surprised if Venus can come through two matches in one day.