Kimberly Birrell vs Sara Saito Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Japan Open

Prediction published on 17/10/2024, 08:04  by Daniel Ngulu | Modified on 17/10/2024 at 08:10 in Tennis Predictions

Qualifier Kimberly Birrell will play wildcard Sara Saito in the quarter-finals of the Japan Women’s Open. This encounter on Friday will mark their first career meeting. Let’s take a look at the match preview before offering a prediction.

Kimberly Birrell won her last four matches, three of them via a decider. She overcame the challenge of third seed Elise Mertens to advance to the last eight.

The Australian, who is making her Osaka debut, has won 37 matches in 2024. Her run in Osaka has propelled her 17 spots up in the live ranking and into 133rd place.

Already with an ITF title claimed on Japanese soil in Fukuoka this year, Birrell will be hoping to replicate that at tour level. The 26-year-old is making her second quarter-final tour-level appearance of the season.

Sara Saito has made it to the last eight at a tour event for the first time. The 18-year-old, who had never won a main draw match at tour level before, has blitzed her way to this round.

Playing as a wildcard on home soil, she has won both of her fixtures in straight sets. A two-time ITF champion, Saito defeated fifth seed Elina Avanesyan to book her place in this round. This win improved her record to 36-16.

Though she has registered 23 of her total wins on hard courts, the Japanese number six has also suffered 12 losses on the surface. Progressing to this round has bumped her a massive 22 places to 157th in the live ranking.

The winner here will play Eva Lys or Aoi Ito for a place in the championship match.