Linz Open 2023, Day 5: Women's singles predictions ft. Maria Sakkari vs Donna Vekic, Clara Tauson vs Petra Martic
The Linz Open has reached its latter stages with the women's singles quarterfinals taking place on Friday (February 10).
Top seed Maria Sakkari will face fifth Donna Vekic in what will be the only all-seeded match of the day. The winner of that match will face whoever wins between sixth seed Petra Martic and Clara Tauson.
Eighth seed Anastasia Potapova will face Anna-Lena Friedsam while Marketa Vondrousova will be up against Dalma Galfi.
On that note, let's take a look at the predictions for the women's singles quarterfinals at the Linz Open.
#1. Maria Sakkari vs Donna Vekic
Top seed Maria Sakkari will face fifth seed Donna Vekic in the quarterfinals of the Linz Open. It will be the sixth meeting between the two in the main draw on the WTA tour, with Vekic leading the head-to-head 4-1.
Sakkari has won seven of her nine matches so far this season and helped Greece to the semifinals of the United Cup. The 27-year-old suffered a third-round exit at the Australian Open but followed that up with straight-set wins over Nuria Parrizas Diaz and Varvara Gracheva in Linz.
Vekic has started the 2023 season strong, with nine wins from 10 matches. The Croat put on a fine performance to reach the Australian Open quarterfinals and will enter her match against Sakkari in good spirits.
While the Greek is the higher-ranked player, Vekic has produced some good tennis this season and given the head-to-head between the two, there's a good chance she could win.
Predicted Winner: Donna Vekic
Clara Tauson vs Petra Martic
Sixth seed Petra Martic will be up against Clara Tauson in what will be the very first meeting between them. Both players booked their spots in the Linz Open quarterfinals with hard-fought wins in the previous round.
Tauson came back from a set down to beat Camila Giorgi 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 while Martic edged out Alison van Uytvanck 6-4, 6-7(5), 7-6(3). The Linz Open is the Dane's first main draw action in 2023 and she has done well to reach the quarterfinals.
Martic's run at the WTA 250 tournament comes after second-round exits at the Australian Open and the Lyon Open.
Tauson will no doubt put up a tough fight, but Martic's experience should see her through to the semifinals.
Predicted Winner: Petra Martic
#3. Anastasia Potapova vs Anna-Lena Friedsam
Eighth seed Anastasia Potapova and Anna-Lena Friedsam will lock horns for the first time when they face each other in the Linz Open quarterfinals.
Potapova has a 5-3 win-loss record this season and booked her place in the last eight in Linz with hard-fought wins over Lucia Bronzetti and Jule Niemeier. While Friedsam had to qualify for the main draw of the tournament, she has fared well so far, beating Sara Errani and fourth seed Anhelina Kalinina in straight sets.
Potapova hasn't had it easy in Linz so far. However, she is the superior player out of the two and should be able to get the better of Friedsam, even if it is in three sets.
Predicted Winner: Anastasia Potapova
#4. Marketa Vondrousova vs Dalma Galfi
2019 French Open runner-up Marketa Vondrousova will take on Hungarian qualifier Dalma Galfi in the Linz Open quarterfinals. It will be the very first meeting between the two.
Vondrousova has won six out of eight matches this season, including one over Ons Jabeur in the second round of the Australian Open. The Czech has done well so far at the Linz Open and is yet to drop a set.
Galfi had to qualify for the main draw in Linz and booked her place in the quarterfinals with wins over Bernarda Pera and Eva Lys.
Vondrousova has had some decent performances this year and should be able to get the better of Galfi.
Predicted Winner: Marketa Vondrousova