We have reached the quarterfinals at the WTA 250 event in Cluj-Napoca. It includes a battle between two former Grand Slam finalists, with Karolina Pliskova set to take on Sara Errani. As always, we at LWOT predict the outcomes of all the matches taking place. But which players do you think will win?
WTA Cluj-Napoca Quarterfinal Predictions
Harriet Dart vs Nuria Parrizas-Diaz
Head-to-Head: Dart 2-2 Parrizas-Diaz
Both players fought through their previous matches. Dart recovered from a set down to defeat Elisabetta Cocciaretto, while Parrizas-Diaz knocked out the fifth seed Anna Blinkova in three sets. This is a great chance to reach a WTA semifnal for two players ranked outside the Top 100. Parrizas-Diaz did win their most recent meeting last month in Canberra, and I am backing her to have the edge again in this clash. The courts in Cluj-Napoca are quite slow, and that is likely to suit the Spaniard more of the two players in this matchup.
Prediction: Parrizas-Diaz in 2
Jaqueline Cristian vs Anastasija Sevastova
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Sevastova’s match with Elina Avanesyan at WTA Cluj-Napoca was cut short in the third set when her opponent retired. It was a shame since Avanesyan saved four match points in the second set, and it was shaping up to be a very exciting end to the contest. Sevastova is looking very strong in one of her first tournaments since returning to tennis. However, Cristian is likely to have her number in Cluj-Napoca. Avanesyan gave Sevastova time on her groundstrokes, which Cristian is less likely to allow. Expect her intensity to be too much for Sevastova.
Prediction: Cristian in 2
Arantxa Rus vs Ana Bogdan
Head-to-Head: Bogdan 3-0 Rus
Rus has started the season well. She had a slump in the final months of last season after winning her maiden WTA title in Hamburg last July, but the Dutch player is back in good form. Yet, despite this, Bogdan gets the advantage in this match. The Romanian has looked extremely good so far in front of her home fans in Cluj-Napoca, and I expect that to continue. In addition, the head-to-head between the players shows that Bogdan’s big-hitting style upsets the rhythm of Rus very effectively.
Prediction: Bogdan in 2
Karolina Pliskova vs Sara Errani
Head-to-Head: Pliskova 1-1 Errani
Both these former Grand Slam finalists won their previous rounds at WTA Cluj-Napoca very easily. Errani’s 6-0 6-1 thrashing of the No. 2 seed Tatjana Maria was a huge surprise. The Italian is far past her prime and has not made a WTA final of any kind since 2016. Hence, this week is hugely valuable to the 36-year-old. Pliskova has suffered a slump of her own in the last couple of years, with this being her first WTA quarterfinal since last April. The slow conditions will allow Errani to get a lot of balls into play. Overall, though, the big-hitting of Pliskova should still prevail in Cluj-Napoca.
Prediction: Pliskova in 2
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey – USA TODAY Sports
