All eight Round of 16 WTA Brisbane matches will be played on Day 5. Teenage star Mirra Andreeva, Aryna Sabalenka, and last year’s Australian Open champion Madison Keys are among those scheduled to play. We at LWOT predict those contests here. The remaining matches, including Amanda Anisimova vs Marta Kostyuk, are predicted separately.

WTA Brisbane Day 5 Predictions
Karolina Muchova vs Ekaterina Alexandrova

Head-to-head: Alexandrova 4-1 Muchova

Alexandrova has done a very good job of countering Muchova’s variety in their previous meetings. The No. 7 seed’s powerful serve and formidable cross-court backhand directly target the Czech’s most significant weaknesses. Muchova’s talent means she always has a chance, but this is a challenging matchup for her.
Prediction: Alexandrova in 2

Aryna Sabalenka vs Sorana Cirstea

Head-to-head: Sabalenka 1-1 Cirstea

World No. 1 Sabalenka only dropped one game in her opening match against Cristina Bucsa. Although Cirstea’s game, based on aggression and trying to dominate with her forehand, is different from Bucsa’s, the veteran has no chance if Sabalenka plays as well again. The four-time Grand Slam champion is the best in women’s tennis at avoiding early upsets, and I do not see that changing here.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 2

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Madison Keys vs Diana Shnaider

Head-to-head: Keys 2-0 Shnaider

Shnaider must consistently find Keys’s backhand if she is to win. In their last meeting in June at the Queen’s Club, the 21-year-old took the opening set 6-2 before she became less accurate and let the defending Australian Open winner dictate with her forehand. Lively hard courts like the one in Brisbane suit Keys perfectly, and I think Shnaider will find stopping her too great a challenge.
Prediction: Keys in 3

Mirra Andreeva vs Linda Noskova

Head-to-head: Andreeva 3-2 Noskova

This is a tough one to call. The young pair have had some great battles against each other, and the conditions do not inherently favor one over the other. Noskova is the more powerful hitter, but Andreeva often thrives with more pace in the rallies. Andreeva is narrowly favored because of her more complete game, but this is a toss-up.
Prediction: Andreeva in 3

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