Round of 16 action from WTA Merida in Mexico features a pair of Colombian players, Emilana Arango and Camila Osorio in action as the quarterfinals will begin to be set in this exciting tournament.
Katie Boulter vs Camila Osorio
The pair have split h2h meetings, Osorio has started the year in solid form, she won an ITF title this year. Boulter’s form is even stronger, she won WTA Ostrava and could lift the title here. Expect high quality tennis, with Boulter having the upper hand. Prediction: Boulter in 3
Cristina Bucsa vs Marina Stakusic
Bucsa at 2-5 on the season really needs to get moving, Stakusic is a talented young player with limited WTA experience. She qualified for the Australian Open and is capable of an upset given how poor Bucsa has been to start the year. Prediction: Stakusic in 2
Magda Linette vs Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva
Linette at 10-5 on the season has been solid at age 34 her first-round match was routine, while Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva is a qualifier here, having already beaten Yulia Putintseva in the first round. While Jimenez has never broken the top 100, she’s improved on the ITF circuit and at 20 years old is rising quickly. An upset appears very possible here given how great Jimenez is striking the ball.
Prediction: Jimenez Kasintseva in 3
Marie Bouzkova vs Emiliana Arango
Bouzkova has yet to make any meaningful results this season, her 3-5 record is poor, and this is her first match of the week in Mexico. Arango defeated Anastasia Potapova for her first WTA win of the season. With neither player in form, it’s hard to predict but Bouzkova has been a stronger player overall. The challenge for Arango is she’s defending final points this week in Merida and looks unlikely to reach that stage again. Prediction: Bouzkova in 3
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