WTA Beijing quarterfinals: Preview and predictions

The China Open will enter the quarterfinal round tomorrow, and here are the matches that will take place:

1) Serena Williams vs Caroline Wozniacki

Serena Williams has been dominating the tour for the better part of the whole year. She is back at the tournament she hasn’t played for quite some time, and as usual has set her sights to leave with a trophy. Wozniacki, on the other hand, has had a lacklustre year but has had some decent and morale-boosting results this week in Beijing, the site where she first became No. 1 back in 2010. The Dane will probably give a tough fight to the American who is not playing her best, but Serena should easily overpower her opponent.

The pick: Serena Williams in two tightly contested sets.

2) Agnieska Radwanska vs Angelique Kerber

The second time the pair are meeting in two weeks, this match should prove to be a highly interesting duel, full of long rallies and clever shots. The last time the two faced off, in last week’s semifinal in Tokyo, Kerber played her best match of the season and beat the Pole easily in two sets. But Radwanska, a past winner here, likes the surface and has been playing confidently in her two previous rounds. The Pole leads the head-to-head record 4-3, and should be confident in facing a familiar foe.

The pick: Radwanska in two close sets.

3) Li Na vs Petra Kvitova

Probably the most interesting and the most tough to predict match in the lineup, the obvious fan favourite Li Na faces the hard-hitting Czech Kvitova. While Kvitova has impressed in her last three matches, Li has had probably the toughest draw among the seeded players, yet has also played most convincingly, and is sure to be a big threat for the title. Expect a constantly momentum-changing match which will be full of equally mesmerizing winners and unforced errors.

The pick: Li Na in three sets.

4) Lucie Safarova vs Jelena Jankovic

Jelena Jankovic is back into the top 10, and is on the cusp of grasping a spot for the prestigious year-end WTA Championships. In Beijing, the Serb has been playing well and looks confident, but now faces her toughest opponent yet, the Czech Lucie Safarova. Safarova has reached the quarters from the section of the draw which became wide open after the defeat of Victoria Azarenka. Safarova, like Jankovic, has looked impressive, and her aggressive game is suited to the fast hard courts of Beijjing. This match could turn out to be a long gruelling match which is sure to entertain.

The pick: Jankovic in three sets.

(The China Open will be shown LIVE on Ten Sports from 12:30 PM IST onwards)