Quarterfinal action at the WTA 250 in Jiujiang will kick off with French Open junior champion Lilli Tagger taking on Tamara Korpatsch in their second meeting in as many months. Fifth seed Yulia Putintseva bids to reach her first WTA semifinal since January when she faces Viktorija Golubic. Who will advance?
WTA Jiujiang Quarterfinal Predictions
Lilli Tagger vs Tamara Korpatsch
Head-to-head: Tagger 1-0 Korpatsch
Lilli Tagger upset Elisabetta Cocciaretto for her first Top 100 win. This is the Austrian’s maiden WTA main draw, and she is through to the quarterfinals. Tagger has a versatile single-handed backhand, which adds a bit of unpredictability in her game. The shot’s waning popularity means that it will always stand out when an up-and-coming player utilizes it. Tamara Korpatsch lost to the 17-year-old quite heavily when they met at an ITF event a couple of months ago. And with the youngster brimming with confidence, she could be on the cusp of a very special week.
Prediction: Tagger in 2
Alycia Parks vs Anna Blinkova
Head-to-head: first meeting
Parks stunned Kaja Juvan in three sets to pick up her first completed win in 10 matches. And she did so with a remarkable score, 1-6 6-1 6-1. This is her first quarterfinal since August, when she made the semis in Monterrey. Blinkova also registered a fantastic result in the second round. The Russian knocked out Anna Bondar in straight sets. Blinkova trailed 3-5 in the first set, but broke Bondar, who served for the set, and turned the match around to win 7-6 7-5. It’s her first quarterfinal since late June in Eastbourne. Parks will need to cut down on the high number of double faults. Although the serve is erratic, it can be effective and will likely aid the American to open up the court and stretch the counterpunching Blinkova.
Prediction: Parks in 3
Zhuoxuan Bai vs Dominika Salkova
Head-to-head: first meeting
Zhuoxuan Bai backed up her massive win over Guangzhou champion Ann Li by knocking out compatriot Hanyu Guo. The result was made more impressive by Bai’s comeback in the second set, where she was on the brink of defeat. After a lengthy injury layoff, Bai didn’t need too many matches to find her groove and vindicates the fact that fresher legs at this stage of the season give her a substantial advantage. Most players are now battling with wear and tear on their bodies after a long season. But 21-year-old Dominika Salkova is fond of playing high-intense tennis and is coming off a great win over Zakharova. The Czech’s forehand timing has been lethal this week and it offsets the occasional hiccups on serve.
Prediction: Salkova in 2
Yulia Putintseva vs Viktorija Golubic
Head-to-head: Golubic 2-1 Putintseva
Putintseva’s season started with so much promise. She reached the semifinals in the star-studded Adelaide International and broke the top 20 after a respectable third-round finish at the Australian Open. That early-season fire has flickered and Putintseva won’t finish higher than 52nd. She has a negative win-loss record (17-26) as the season draws to a close. This is her lowest win rate in a decade. But she is showing renewed focus, and there is a spark in her game as she beat two inexperienced opponents this week to reach her first Tour-level quarterfinal since January. Golubic has won two of their three meetings, but in this kind of form, Putintseva can grind out a much-needed victory.
Prediction: Putintseva in 3
Main Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports