It has been a great tournament so far in Linz. Four more Round of 16 matches will be played in Day 4. Former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova is among those scheduled to take to the court. We here at LWOT predict all the action, but which players do you think will reach the quarterfinals?
WTA Linz Day 4 Predictions
Donna Vekic vs Anhelina Kalinina
Head-to-head: First meeting
Both women have won three matches since qualifying. Seeing a player of Vekic’s caliber in qualifying at tournaments remains strange, but her determination to rise again is admirable. However, I feel the Olympic Silver Medalist will be defeated here. Clay is Kalinina’s best surface, and it gives her the best chance to expose Vekic’s movement in rallies.
Prediction: Kalinina in 2
Liudmila Samsonova vs Lilli Tagger
Head-to-head: First meeting
Tagger registered an impressive opening round triumph over Paula Badosa, while Samsonova has yet to play as the No. 3 seed. 18-year-old Tagger has a game that could disrupt Samsonova because of her athleticism and ability to stay in points. I still narrowly favor Samsonova’s power to ultimately prove decisive, but expect a hard-fought battle between these two.
Prediction: Samsonova in 3
Anastasia Potapova vs Tamara Korpatsch
Head-to-head: Korpatsch 1-0 Potapova
This has the potential to be a lengthy match, even if it is not decided in the deciding set. Neither woman strikes the ball with much power, creating a reliance on being consistent. Korpatsch possesses more variety, but Potapova is harder to hit through. On a clay court, I like the 25-year-old’s chances of grinding out a victory.
Prediction: Potapova in 2
Karolina Pliskova vs Ekaterina Alexandrova
Head-to-head: Pliskova 2-2 Alexandrova
Pliskova played her first match in nearly two months in the previous round, triumphing against Aliaksandra Sasnovich. Alexandrova’s game, while not identical, shares similarities with the Czech in terms of how hard and flat she hits. While Pliskova was impressive in her previous match, defeating Alexandrova may prove a step too far so soon after returning from another injury issue.
Prediction: Alexandrova in 2
Main Photo Credit: John E. Sokolowski – USA TODAY Sports