Merida Open 2023 Day 5: Women's singles predictions ft. Sloane Stephens vs Camila Giorgi, Magda Linette vs Rebecca Peterson and more
The field at the Merida Open Akron 2023 has come down to the final eight with big names including Camila Giorgi, Sloane Stephens and Magda Linette still standing tall.
The players now find themselves locked in enticing quarter-final encounters featuring as many as four seeded players, including Magda Linette and Sloane Stephens.
We take a look at what the Merida Open Akron Day 5 match-ups contests may have in store:
Merida Open 2023: Sloane Stephens vs Camila Giorgi
Having come into the tournament with little momentum, both Sloane Stephens and Camila Giorgi have finally found some form in the new season.
The American, who was 0-3 in terms of win-loss for 2023, has scored solid wins over Leolia Jeanjean and Varvara Gracheva to book her spot in the last eight. Giorgi, meanwhile, has powered her way past Mayar Sherif and Nuria Parrizas Diaz.
The slow conditions in Merida will be more to Sloane Stephens' liking, but she will still need to step up her game against a big ball striker like Camila Giorgi. Unless she can do that, the American risks being blown off the court.
Prediction: Giorgi to win in three sets
Merida Open 2023: Magda Linette vs Rebecca Peterson
Top seed Magda Linette seems to have carried her winning momentum from Down Under into her first Tour appearance since reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open last month.
The Pole, however, has been tested thoroughly. After saving match point against Camila Osorio Serrano in her opener, she now finds herself up against the big-hitting Rebecca Peterson — who, having come through qualifying, has already posted four wins in Merida this week.
Peterson was especially ruthless in her dismissal of fifth seed Alycia Parks in her last match but Linette's all-court game can frustrate power hitters. The top seed will be expecting a tough battle but should come through in the end.
Prediction: Linette to win in three sets
Merida Open 2023: Caty McNally vs Kimberly Birrell
The quarter-final stage of the Merida Open 2023 presents a big opportunity for two young names looking to make their mark on the big stage — Caty McNally and Kimberly Birrell.
Both players have posted big wins in the past week, with McNally taking out an in-form Li Zhu and Birrell triumphing over another talented Chinese player in Wang Xinyu.
The match-up will pit similar-looking all-court games against each other. In such a situation, McNally's past experience of having played matches on the big stage may tilt the result in her favor.
Prediction: Mcnally to win in three sets
Merida Open 2023: Katerina Siniakova vs Elizabetta Cocciaretto
The only match-up involving two seeded opponents will have the fast-rising Elizabeth Cocciaretto take on the seasoned Katerina Siniakova.
Both women have been dominant in their wins at the Merida Open so far, with Cocciaretto dropping only nine and Siniakova only 10 games in their first two matches.
Siniakova remains the more experienced of the two players. However, if her opponent's recent form is anything to go by — she was a finalist in Hobart last month — Cocciaretto may have an edge in this one.
Prediction: Cocciaretto to win in three sets