Emma Raducanu vs Marta Kostyuk Prediction & Betting Tips - Cluj Napoca 2, Romania, Qualifying

Prediction published on 28/10/2021, 11:48  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 28/10/2021 at 12:49 in Tennis Predictions

Third seed Emma Raducanu was 338th in the world prior to Wimbledon. A win over sixth seeded Marta Kostyuk in the quarter finals of the Transylvania Open will see her move into the top 20. Raducanu leaped up the rankings when reaching the last 16 at Wimbledon. That was nothing compared to when she won the US Open. Since then, the young Brit (who has a Romanian father) has become quite the celebrity and lost in the first round at Indian Wells. This week has gone much better for her though and the world number 23 has already risen another couple of place in the live rankings. A win over Kostyuk will take her above Jessica Pegula and Petra Kvitova up to 19th. Wins have come against Paula Hercog (after losing the first set) and Ana Bogdan. If winning this match, Raducanu will face either top seed Simona Halep or Jaqueline Cristian.

Marta Kostyuk began the year ranked 99th and began this week as the world number 55. The 19-year-old (seven months older than her opponent) is bidding to reach her third semi-final of the year. The first was way back in January in Abu Dhabi, the other on clay in Istanbul in March. Her best performance in the Grand Slams this year was a fourth round at the French Open. Form has dipped of late with five of her last six matches being lost before this week. So far in this tournament, Kostyuk has defeated Bernarda Para and Mona Barthel without dropping a set. Raducanu looks to be back in form and concentrating more on her tennis than what to wear at a ball. Back her to win this but it could take three sets to do so.