WTA Seoul: Quarter-Final Predictions

Caroline Wozniacki

Caroline Wozniacki v Klara Zakopalova

The former world number one, Caroline Wozniacki has looked in much better form this week with straight set wins over Arantxa Rus and Caroline Garcia.  She will fancy her chances of at least coming through the top half to make the final in Korea.  Her quarter-final opponent is Klara Zakopalova who snapped a five match losing streak against Garbine Muguruza in the first round and continued the winning ways with a 6-1 7-6 victory over Magdalena Rybarikova in the second round.  Zakopalova has weapons, but Wozniacki has the consistency and I believe the Dane will be too strong in this encounter...

Prediction - Wozniacki to beat Zakopalova in 2 tight sets

Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez v Ekaterina Makarova

The second quarter is perhaps the most intriguing of the four in Seoul as the defending champion, Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez goes up against the dangerous leftie, Ekaterina Makarova.  Martinez Sanchez benefited with a walkover from Nadia Petrova in the second round, meanwhile Makarova beat Jamie Hampton in 2 tight sets.  Martinez Sanchez has struggled with injuries this year, but is always a tricky player with her serve-and-volley game.  Makarova has had a very consistent year and is now on the verge of cracking the top 20 for the first time in her career.  I think Makarova will record her fourth straight win over Martinez Sanchez.

Prediction - Makarova to beat Martinez Sanchez in 2 tight sets

Kiki Bertens v Kaia Kanepi

Kiki Bertens has had a breakthrough year on tour winning her first title in Fes and recording big wins over Lucie Safarova, Nadia Petrova and Christina McHale.  This is only Berten's second quarter-final appearance at a WTA event and she will have her hands full with Kaia Kanepi.  The Estonian has looked in fine form this week following her comeback from injury and was a dominant 6-2 6-2 winner over Galina Voskoboeva. I originally went for Bertens to the semi-finals and she has done well to reach this stage.  I thought Kanepi might be rusty, but she seems to have hit the ground running and I think she will be too strong for Bertens.

Prediction - Kanepi to beat Bertens in 2 sets

Tamira Paszek v Varvara Lepchenko

The exit of Maria Kirilenko has opened up the chance for Tamira Paszek or Varvara Lepchenko to gain some solid ranking points in Korea.  Paszek enjoyed a tough win over Carla Suarez Navarro in the first round before strolling past Korean wildcard, Lee-So Ra in the second round.  Lepchenko has been very impressive this week and she held all her eight service games without facing a break point in a 6-4 6-1 win over Anabel Medina Garrigues.  Paszek leads the head-to-head 2-1, but their last encounter was an epic in Quebec City.  I am going for Lepchenko to prevail in this one...

Prediction - Lepchenko to beat Paszek in 3 sets

You can view my original predictionals for Seoul, Korea HERE.  I predicted four of the eight quarter-finalists, but could potentially score four out of four for the semi-finals ;-)