Veronika Kudermetova vs Maria Sakkari Prediction & Betting Tips - Guadalajara 2, Mexico, Qualifying

Prediction published on 21/10/2022, 06:23  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 21/10/2022 at 07:24 in Tennis Predictions

Fourth seeded Maria Sakarri takes on the eighth seed Veronika Kudermetova in the Guadaljara Open quarter finals. It's a highly significant match for another reason. Just one place in the WTA Tour Finals remains to be claimed and it's the winner of this match who will take it. Kudermetova is eighth in the live WTA Race, but Sakkari can overtake her if winning this quarter final. Sakkari began this year well with two finals and a semi-final in February and March. It's not gone so well since then though with the number of times the Greek player has failed to get past the last 16 into double figures. That includes her last two tournaments and it's been a bit of a struggle for her to get to the last eight in Guadaljara. The third round saw her having to come from behind to get past 14th seeded Danielle Collins. Now she has the chance not only to set up a semi-final against either Anna Kalinskaya or Marie Bouzhkova (both unseeded) and to reach the WTA Tour Finals.

Veronika Kudermetova is the world number 12 (six places below her opponent) but can move up to 10th with a win over Sakkari. The Russian hasn't won a tournament this year (nor has Sakkari) but has had a consistent year. Winning this match will take her into a third successive semi-final and a seventh of the year. Two finals have been reached this year by the 25-year-old player. She's closing in on $2m in prize money for the year. Kudermetova has only won one of her previous three matches against her opponent. Her win came in 2019 but the last two have been won by Sakkari, the most recent in this year's Australian Open. Wins this week have come against Donna Vekic (a finalist last week) and Jelena Ostapenko without a set being dropped. Back her to beat Sakkari, it might take three sets though.