Polina Kudermetova vs Beatriz Haddad Maia Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Korea Open

Prediction published on 19/09/2024, 09:11  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 19/09/2024 at 10:11 in Tennis Predictions

Third seed Beatriz Haddad Maia doesn't have any seeded players between her and the Korea Open final. The Brazilian takes on lucky loser Polina Kudermetova in the quarter-finals. Read our match prediction below.

The winner of this match will face either Viktorija Tomova or Veronica Kudermetova (sister of Polina) for a place in the final of this WTA 500 tournament that is being played in Seoul.

Maia is 17th in the latest rankings and has climbed one place thanks to reaching the last eight of this tournament. In the Live WTA Race, the 28-year-old is up to 22nd but unlikely to qualify for the end-of-season Tour Finals.

Her form is strong at present though with a recent hard court final reached in Cleveland.  That was followed by a run to the last eight in the US Open. Maia has also played in one other semi-final on this surface in 2024. 

One match has had to be played to reach this quarter-final. That saw her beat Ajla Tomljanovic in straight sets, losing seven games. That made it nine wins from her last 11 matches, all played on this surface.

Polina Kudermetova didn't expect to be playing a quarter-final after being beaten in the qualifying rounds. Nor could she have imagined a possible semi-final against her older sister!

Lu Jiajing beat her in the final qualifying round but she was then reinstated as a lucky loser after the withdrawal of Magdalena Frech.

The world number 163 is up to a career-high 126th after winning two matches in the main draw. Round one saw her beat qualifier Priscilla Hon in straight sets. In the last 16, the Russian defeated seventh seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova without dropping a set.

We tip the in-form Maia to win this in straight sets.a